in 1973, bd added another u.s. facility — a research center in durham, north carolina in research triangle park. the center was established to help the company meet united states environmental protection agency (epa) requirements, research improved manufacturing and process methods, and develop future innovative technologies. in 1975, bd pharmaceutical systems europe acquired an important patent for a prefilled syringe injecting heparin. in 1980, bd developed its first automated system for mycobacteria testing—the bd bactec 460tb system. the next year brought significant signs of the company's development as sales surpassed the $1 billion milestone and a new plant in plymouth, england was constructed to serve the european markets. five years later bd moved its corporate headquarters to franklin lakes, new jersey (current hq location.) also in 1986, bd acquired fabersanitas industrial, a major spanish syringe manufacturer as well as deseret medical, a vascular access devices manufacturer. the last three years of the 1980s also showed growth in asia (manufacturing facilities in singapore and japan.) furthermore, bd became the first company to introduce a safety-engineered syringe, the bd safety-lok (1988), and acquired the beaver blade company, a manufacturer of high-quality surgical blades. the first half of the next decade was very important to bd's development. the company opened a central distribution center in temse, belgium (1992) and entered india and china (1995). bd also introduced a device that offered needle stick protection following blood-drawing procedures, the bd vacutainer safety-lok blood collection set.