Beckman Instruments’ Sales, Profits Dip

Beckman Instruments Inc., a Fullerton laboratory equipment manufacturer, reported a first-quarter profit of $4.7 million, or 17 cents a share. That included charges totaling $1.2 million for a reorganization announced in October and $5.1 million from an accounting change. For the same quarter last year, profit totaled $6.2 million, or 22 cents a share. Three-month sales dropped 2% to $198.6 million from $201.7 million. The company said its revenue from U.S. diagnostic operations increased but that sales in Europe were lower, partly because of currency changes.