Sigma-Aldrich, a life science and high technology company, has acquired all outstanding shares of Cleveland-based Research Organics, a supplier of high purity biochemicals.

The acquisition will expand Sigma-Aldrich’s buffer production capacity and increase its portfolio of PharmaGrade raw materials for the biopharmaceutical and diagnostic markets. Research Organics will transition into SAFC, the custom manufacturing and services business unit of Sigma-Aldrich. 

"This acquisition is an outstanding complement to our existing raw materials portfolio and will help us provide more innovative solutions for some of our customers' toughest supply challenges,” said Gilles Cottier, executive vice president of Sigma-Aldrich and president of SAFC. “It will also enable us to provide SAFC's customers with true dual sourcing of buffers from two of the world's leading manufacturing sites." 

Founded in the 1950's, Research Organics was a pioneer in manufacturing zwitterionic biological buffers and developing the HEPES buffer as an industry-standard. 

Rob Sternfeld, president of Research Organics, said, "The acquisition provides the resources to expand the growth of our business, to enhance our product line and to upgrade our facilities to meet ever changing industry requirements.”

Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. Sigma-Aldrich expects the acquisition to be neutral to earnings per share in 2012.