Microbritt Ltd, a UK-based microfabrication specialist, has opened a new 5,500 square foot facility in Northumberland to support the growing demand for scalable microfluidic device manufacturing. The purpose-built site marks a major step in the company’s growth and enhances its ability to deliver high-quality microfluidics from prototyping through to full-scale production.
The facility includes dedicated zones for micromilling, bonding, inspection, and assembly, enabling Microbritt to offer a fully integrated workflow for thermoplastic microfluidic devices. The company focuses on robust thermoplastics, including COC (cyclic olefin copolymer), COP (cyclic olefin polymer), PMMA (acrylic), and polycarbonate—materials widely used in diagnostics, life sciences, and environmental testing due to their optical clarity, chemical resistance, and mechanical stability.
Of these, COC stands out for offering many of the advantages of glass, including excellent optical transparency, low autofluorescence, and high chemical resistance—making it a compelling choice for optical and biochemical applications where performance and cost-efficiency are equally important.
A key strength of Microbritt’s offering is the ability to support clients from early-stage prototyping through to scaled production using the same material. This approach eliminates the need for costly redesigns and ensures a smooth transition from concept to commercialisation.
For volume manufacturing, Microbritt works closely with trusted injection moulding partners to deliver high-precision components that meet demanding tolerances and replicate fine microstructures. This collaboration allows Microbritt to provide a complete development path from functional prototype to production-ready parts, supported by in-house expertise.
The company also employs thermal diffusion bonding—a solvent-free, high-integrity process that produces clean, optically clear seals in multi-layer thermoplastic devices. This technique is especially suited to sensitive diagnostic platforms and optical detection systems where chemical purity and structural integrity are critical.
Microbritt’s expanded capabilities include:
- High precision micromilling of thermoplastics for functional prototyping and toolmaking
- Thermal diffusion bonding for robust, solvent-free multilayer assembly
- Coordination with trusted partners for injection moulding
- Custom mould tool fabrication for PDMS microfluidic platforms
- Design-for-manufacture support to ensure scalable, reliable device architecture
- In-house inspection to verify dimensional accuracy and product integrity
In addition to thermoplastics, Microbritt also provides micromachining of glass and silicon, which remain important for applications requiring high thermal or chemical resistance, or optical-grade precision.
“Having all critical steps managed under one roof means we can reduce development time, increase reliability, and give customers confidence that their prototypes can scale,” said Dr. Carl Dale, co-founder and CEO of Microbritt. “By partnering with trusted moulding specialists, we ensure high-volume production is tightly aligned with the design intent.”
Microbritt works with startups, research institutions, and global players to deliver advanced microfluidic solutions across medical diagnostic, and sensing markets. The new facility represents a strong foundation for further growth and reinforces the company’s role as a trusted UK manufacturing partner.
For more information, visit www.microbritt.com or contact [email protected].