CaridianBCT’s origins date back to 1964 when founders Bob Collins and Ran Bellows established COBE Laboratories to meet emerging needs for custom heart-lung tubing packs. COBE Laboratories evolved into a market leader in the automated blood component processing technology and medical specialty products industry. In 1990, the company was acquired by Gambro AB — a publicly traded, multinational health care company based in Sweden. Today, CaridianBCT is an independent organization headquartered in the U.S. operating under private ownership.