
	Becton Dickinson and Company (BD)&nbsp;is an American&nbsp;medical technology&nbsp;company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. Founded in 1897 and&nbsp;headquartered&nbsp;in&nbsp;Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs nearly 30,000 people in more than 50 countries throughout the world. In fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, 60% of BD sales were generated from non-U.S. markets. The company&#39;s customers include healthcare institutions, science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. BD was one of the first companies to sell U.S.-made glass syringes. It was also a pioneer in the production of hypodermic needles. Today, BD is divided into three segments: BD Medical, BD Diagnostics and BD Biology.BD was ranked 347 and 312, respectively, in the 2009 and 2010 Fortune 500&nbsp;list.
