What Epigem does

Epigem Limited is a UK-based micro engineering company founded in 1995 following a management buyout from ICI's Advanced Materials Division and headquartered in Redcar, North East England. The company designs and manufactures polymer microfluidic devices, customisable fine-line microelectrodes, and electrical-microfluidic hybrid devices, alongside reel-to-reel coating, embossing and plating services operated from a purpose-built ISO 5/Class 100 cleanroom. Its technology platform centres on proprietary fabrication processes protected by 100+ patents across 15 unique innovations, including patented micro-gasket sealing and ferrule interconnection systems that enable microfluidic chips to be integrated with silicon, glass or quartz components and combined with PCB-like electrical circuits. The Epimesh transparent conducting film extends the platform into photovoltaic and transparent-electrode applications as an ITO alternative.

Epigem operates a consultative B2B service journey covering Introduction, Feasibility, Design, Prototype, Pre-Production and Ramp Up Production, with quote-based pricing determined per project and ISO9001:2015 quality assurance across all manufacturing. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of custom microfluidic chips and microelectrode components to global diagnostics and instrumentation companies, supplemented by professional services revenue from coating/embossing day trials, contract R&D, and per-square-metre production runs. By 2021, 90% of revenue was sourced from commercial customers, with the remaining share historically tied to grant-funded research consortia such as AQUAVALENS, SYMPHONY and CoMMiTMenT. Customer segments span medical diagnostics and healthcare, environmental monitoring, analytical instrumentation, and electronics and energy.

The company serves 200+ customers globally, primarily as a direct supplier embedded in enterprise customers' diagnostic and analytical product platforms. The company was acquired by Jeremy Praud in 2025 with stated intent to expand manufacturing capability. Marketing is principally conducted via the company website and LinkedIn presence, with sales driven by consultative engagement rather than channel intermediaries. The firm operates with 11-50 employees and no disclosed institutional investor base.

Name

Epigem

Legal name

Epigem Limited

Website

https://epigem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Epigem is a UK micro engineering company that designs and manufactures polymer microfluidic devices, fine-line microelectrodes and electrical-microfluidic hybrid devices, plus reel-to-reel coating and embossing services, for global diagnostics, analytical instrumentation, environmental and electronics customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Redcar

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Microfluidic Device Manufacturing: Design and manufacturing service for polymer microfluidic modules and systems. Provides complete service from prototype through to high volume manufacture. ISO9001:2015 quality assured production in cleanroom environment.
2. Microelectrode Components: Manufacture and supply of customisable fine-line microelectrode circuitry for applications including DEP microfluidic components, transparent electrode systems for biomedical analysis, and transparent conducting elements for photovoltaic cells.
3. Coating and Embossing Services: Pilot scale to medium volume film coating and embossing services including day trials (fixed price per day), contract R&D, and low/medium volume production (priced per square meter).
4. Plating Foils Services: Pilot to medium scale plating services for small scale panels or large rolls of foil using in-house reel to reel plating line.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Epigem designs and manufactures polymer microfluidic chips and modules, customisable fine-line microelectrodes, and electrical-microfluidic hybrid devices, supplying these components to medical diagnostics, analytical instrumentation, electronics and energy companies. The company also offers pilot-to-medium volume reel-to-reel coating, embossing, and plating services in an ISO 5/Class 100 cleanroom environment.

Product overview

Epigem is a micro engineering company offering a unified portfolio of microfluidic and microcircuitry products and services. Core offerings include microfluidic chips and modules (polymer-based with patented micro-gasket sealing technology), microelectrodes (customisable fine-line microcircuitry down to 15µm wide), and electrical-microfluidic hybrid devices combining PCB-like electrical circuits with microfluidic channels. The company also provides coating and embossing services for polymer substrates and developed the Epimesh transparent conducting film product. Services span the full product lifecycle from concept through prototype to medium and high-volume manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microfluidic Chips Polymer microfluidic modules and systems designed and manufactured to customer specification, featuring patented micro-gasket sealing and ferrule interconnection technologies for ultra-compact, leak-free fluid interfacing. Manufactured in ISO 9001:2015 quality-assured cleanroom. Supplied to medical diagnostics, analytical instrumentation and environmental monitoring customers from prototype through high-volume production.
• Microelectrodes Customisable fine-line microcircuitry with conducting elements approximately 5µm thick and down to 15µm wide, embedded in transparent resin on rigid or flexible carrier surfaces, using nickel conductor with optional gold flash. Supplied globally for incorporation into analytical instruments, dielectrophoresis microfluidic components, transparent electrode systems for biomedical analysis, and transparent conducting elements for photovoltaic cells.
• Electrical-Microfluidic Hybrid Devices Devices combining PCB-like electrical circuit layers with microfluidic channels, enabling electrical manipulation of fluids alongside passive microfluidic functions such as flow splitting and passive mixing. Manufactured using Epigem's proprietary integration processes.
• Epimesh Transparent Conducting Film Transparent conducting film product with properties superior to indium tin oxide (ITO), supplied for photovoltaic cells and transparent electrode applications.
• Coating & Embossing Services Pilot-scale to medium-volume film coating and embossing services using purpose-built reel-to-reel equipment in an ISO 5/Class 100 cleanroom. Supports polymer films, metal foils, and papers, with wet coating thickness from sub-micron up to 100µm, maximum web width of 350mm and coating speed up to 20 m/min. Offered as day trials (fixed daily rate), contract R&D, and low/medium volume production (priced per square meter).
• Plating Foils Pilot to medium-scale plating services for small-scale panels or large rolls of foil using Epigem's in-house reel-to-reel plating line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31 years of microengineering experience since 1995
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• UK-China Research PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017UK-China partnerships established in 2017 to address antimicrobial resistance incorporating advanced Raman spectroscopy.
• AQUAVALENS ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013European research project focused on contaminated water protection for drinking water and food processing applications. Epigem secured over £2 million of funding for this and other healthcare projects in 2013.
• SYMPHONY ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Project focused on milk quality and safety, specifically targeting prevention of Aflatoxin M1 and its precursor Aflatoxin B1 from entering dairy products. Part of £2 million+ funding secured in 2013.
• CoMMiTMenT Consortium (Combined Molecular Microscopy for Therapy and Personalised Medication in Rare Anaemia Treatments)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Project to provide novel diagnostic tool and better understanding of pathophysiology of rare anaemia. Part of over £2 million funding secured in 2013.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dolomite Microfluidics: UK-headquartered specialist in microfluidic components, chips, and systems for life sciences and diagnostics. Directly comparable as a polymer microfluidic device manufacturer and contract designer serving similar medical diagnostics and analytical-instrumentation customers.
• Microfluidic Chipshop: Germany-based contract manufacturer of polymer (incl. COC/COP) and glass microfluidic chips and components. Closely comparable to Epigem in offering design-to-volume microfluidic chip fabrication for diagnostics and analytical instrumentation.
• thinXXS Microtechnology: German manufacturer of polymer-based microfluidic consumables and components for diagnostics and life sciences. Comparable as a custom polymer microfluidic contract manufacturer serving similar end-markets.
• ELVESYS: France-based microfluidics specialist offering flow-control systems and microfluidic chip design services. Comparable in delivering custom microfluidic engineering solutions to life-science and analytical-instrumentation end users.
• Fluigent: French manufacturer of microfluidic flow-control instruments and OEM microfluidic components. Comparable to Epigem in serving analytical-instrumentation and life-science customers with specialty microfluidic products.
• uFluidix: Canada-based microfluidic device design and contract manufacturer offering thermoplastic chip prototyping and production. Comparable in business model (custom microfluidic device fabrication) and customer segments (diagnostics, life sciences, analytical).
• 1st Microfluidics (Part of Pressure Biosciences): US-based microfluidic device and emulsion-generation contract manufacturer serving diagnostics and life sciences. Comparable in custom microfluidic device manufacturing service model and customer overlap.
• Micronit Microtechnologies: Dutch MEMS and microfluidic chip manufacturer with cleanroom fabrication capabilities for glass, silicon, and polymer devices. Comparable as a specialty microfluidic device contract manufacturer serving diagnostics and analytical instrumentation OEMs.

Broad incumbents

• Bio-Techne: US-listed life-science tools and diagnostics company with microfluidic / protein-analysis product lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent in diagnostics and life-science instruments that overlaps with Epigem's primary medical diagnostics customer vertical.
• Cytiva: Global bioprocessing and life-sciences tools provider (formerly GE Healthcare Life Sciences) with microfluidic and lab-on-chip offerings for diagnostics and biopharma. Comparable as a much larger incumbent that Epigem serves as a component supplier via its 'global diagnostics companies' relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epigem

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Epigem