Weidmann Plastics Technology and Micronics Form Microfluidic Products Alliance

Micronics, Inc., USA, and Weidmann Plastics Technology AG, Switzerland, have announced that they have entered into a joint product development and co-promotion agreement, and a letter of intent for a supply agreement in which the combination of their respective microfluidic and microfabrication expertise will offer new product solutions to their clients in the life sciences sector.

Microfluidics is the ability to move, mix, pump and control fluids on a microscopic level. Researchers in industry, government and academia are applying microfluidic technologies in such applications as protein separation, drug development, diagnostics, and environmental monitoring. The use of microfluidic-based lab chips has been shown to enable researchers to perform chemical and sample reactions faster, less expensively, and with less handling than traditional assay and sample preparation formats.

Microfabrication is the ability to produce fine features of submicron dimensions in high quality, optically clear materials using unique manufacturing processes. Microfabrication techniques further enable the commercialization of disposable lab-on-a-chip devices as well as hybrid components for drug discovery that complement the growing need to reduce the volumes of reagents and samples used in diverse medical and scientific applications.

The newly formed alliance between Micronics and Weidmann creates a strong combined portfolio of technologies, skills and services of substantial benefit to the clients that each company serves. Together, the companies provide complete value-added processes, including custom design, product development, rapid prototyping and commercial production of microfluidic devices.

The benefit of the announced cooperation for the OEM’s developing microfluidic devices is to bring together Micronics’ expertise in rapid prototyping with Weidmann’s core technology in mould design and mass manufacturing. The Weidmann-Micronics cooperation provides considerable benefits to customers of both companies since the entire development process, from fluidics concepts and design through prototyping to mass production, stems from one combined source. Working as a unit, synchronizing and integrating design and process considerations to optimize specifications and production, the Weidmann-Micronics team can offer customers smoother transitions to commercialization and quicker time-to-market. The close cooperation between the two companies also ensures our customers seamless contact through either partner, regardless of whether the project originates through Weidmann or Micronics.

“Partnering with Weidmann provides Micronics and our clients with the commercial production expertise our customers need when their lab-on-a-chip products and other fluidic devices require exquisitely small, injection molded features,” said Karen Hedine, president of Micronics. “Weidmann’s established reputation as an international development partner and supplier of high quality, injection molded components allows us to offer our clients a quality-oriented, commercial volume manufacturing source.”

Dr. Thomas Wilhelm, President of Weidmann Plastic Technology AG said, “Micronics’ extensive patent estate in microfluidics and its specialized ability to provide rapid prototyping of novel disposable products, gives Weidmann extended resources of value to its clients prior to commercial scale up. We believe that the life sciences sector will continue to demand products of the type that Micronics and Weidmann can jointly develop, prototype and produce.”

Micronics, Inc.

Based in Redmond, Washington, Micronics is a leading provider of custom-designed microfluidics based lab-on-a-chip devices, including DNA/RNA, PCR, SPR and bead based products for use in life sciences, genomics, proteomics, diagnostics, drug discovery and analytical chemistry markets. Micronics' proprietary technologies expand the boundaries of miniaturization in microfluidics, enabling faster chemical reactions of complex fluids at considerable cost, labor and time sav

Reader enquiries