Exhibit 10.1

SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

     THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is entered
into as of December 1, 2004, by and between DIONEX CORPORATION, a California
corporation (“Borrower”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Bank”).

RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Borrower is currently indebted to Bank pursuant to the terms and
conditions of that Credit Agreement between Borrower and Bank dated as of
November 13, 2000, as amended from time to time (“Credit Agreement”).

     WHEREAS, Bank and Borrower have agreed to certain changes in the terms and
conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement and have agreed to amend the Credit
Agreement to reflect said changes.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree that the Credit
Agreement shall be amended as follows:

     1.      Section 1.1 (a) is hereby amended by deleting “December 31, 2004”
as the last day on which Bank will make advances under the Line of Credit, and
by substituting for said date “December 31, 2006,” with such change to be
effective upon the execution and delivery to Bank of a promissory note
substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (which promissory note
shall replace and be deemed the Line of Credit Note defined in and made pursuant
to the Credit Agreement) and all other contracts, instruments and documents
required by Bank to evidence such change.

     2.      Section 1.2. (a) is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the
following substituted therefor:

     “(a)     Standby Letter of Credit. Bank has issued or cause an affiliate to
issue a standby letter of credit for the account of Borrower and for the benefit
of the former shareholders of LC Packing (the “Standby Letter of Credit”) in the
principal amount of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($3,5000,000.00). The Standby Letter of Credit has an expiration date of
January 31, 2005, and is subject to the additional terms of the Letter of Credit
agreement, application and any related documents required by Bank in connection
with the issuance thereof (the “Letter of Credit Agreement”). Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, Bank hereby confirms that the Standby
Letter of Credit remains in full force and effect.”

 

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     3.      Except as specifically provided herein, all terms and conditions of
the Credit Agreement remain in full force and effect, without waiver or
modification. All terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same
meaning when used in this Amendment. This Amendment and Credit Agreement shall
be read together, as one document.

     4.      Borrower hereby remakes all representations and warranties
contained in the Credit Agreement and reaffirms all covenants set forth therein.
Borrower further certifies that as of the date of this Amendment there exists no
Even of Default as defined in the Credit Agreement, nor any condition, act or
event which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would
constitute any such Event of Default.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed as of the day and year first written above.

              Dionex Corporation   WELLS FARGO BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By:   /s/ Gary A. McCollum

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  By:   /s/ Julie Richardson

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      Julie Richardson
      Vice President Title:   Vice President & CEO

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