The company was founded in 1968 by University of Vermont Medical College physiologist Dr. Norman Alpert and engineer George H. Luhr, who directed the college's instrumentation and model facility.

[4] [5][6] With the acquisition, Biotek's products will provide research on life science with "cost-effective analysis and qualification" over many different applications.

[7] The company originally manufactured devices used to test and calibrate medical equipment, and in the 1980s started to develop then sell microplate readers; in 2002 the company sold off the testing device business to focus on microplates.

[2] By 2013 its lines of business included microplate readers, washers, dispensers and related software, as well as related laboratory automation equipment; it was developing a microscopy line as well.

[2] As of 2013 it had around 350 employees, with around 250 in Vermont and the rest in sales in other US states and major markets worldwide.