Increased air quality standards to benefit lab equipment firms

SHANGHAI - A recent revamp of the regulations concerning air pollution in China, in particular the decision to monitor levels of ultra-fine particles known as particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), is opening a new growth area for manufacturers of laboratory equipment.

One of the biggest beneficiaries could be Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, the world's largest manufacturer of scientific instruments by revenue.

The US-based company is already deeply entrenched in the nation's market for equipment to monitor pollution levels. Zhou Xiaobin, the commercial director of Thermo's environmental and processing instrument division in China, expects the company to increase its market share following the introduction of the new regulations.