What Microprint Lc does

microPrint LC GmbH is a Swiss private GmbH headquartered in Beringen, Switzerland, that develops and manufactures pad printing machines (Tampondruckmaschinen) and integrated pad printing automation systems. Founded in 1995 by Rudolf Bührer, a former Tecaprint co-founder who developed the MP100 — the first pad printing machine with integrated pad cleaning — the company is now in its second generation of family ownership under Thomas Bührer, who assumed management in 2011 and has steered R&D toward electric servo drives, linear-motor positioning, touchscreen controls, camera-based position correction, and Industry 4.0–compatible networked machines.

The product portfolio spans six machine lines (Smart, LCN, MS, MSS, ML, and Modul) ranging from entry-level pneumatic units to fully electric programmable systems, plus five automation system lines (Portal, Network Machines, Rotary Tables, Transfer carre, Transfer linear) and accessories for pretreatment (ionization, flame, plasma), drying (air, infrared, NIR, UV), and cleaning (the Osmeco-sourced ecoCleaner). Custom and special machines — including a 5-color rotating-table unit and the RP5 rim printer with camera-to-valve alignment — are developed for specific industrial challenges. Revenue is generated primarily through direct, quote-based hardware sales to industrial manufacturers in medical technology, automotive, watches, plastics, and general industrial segments, supplemented by consulting and sample-printing services; distribution is exclusively direct, with no disclosed reseller network.

Name

Microprint Lc

Legal name

microPrint LC GmbH

Website

https://microprint.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

microPrint LC GmbH is a Swiss family-owned manufacturer of pad printing machines, automation systems, and accessories, selling directly to industrial customers in medical, automotive, watch, plastics, and general industrial markets via quote-based hardware sales and custom engineering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Printing Equipment

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Labeling, Coding & Marking Equipment (Labelers, Inkjet, Laser) (IMALAOAD)

Keywords

• Pad printing machines
• Industrial printing equipment
• Printing automation systems
• Surface treatment equipment
• Custom printing solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Beringen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pad Printing Machines: Manufacturing and sale of pad printing machines ranging from simple pneumatic entry-level models to fully electric high-end systems with programmable processes. Product lines include Smart, LCN, MS, MSS, ML, and Modul lines, plus special/custom machines.
2. Pad Printing Automation Systems: Combined pad printing systems integrating machines with transport systems, pre/post-treatment devices, and camera controls. Includes Portal Line, Network machines, Rotary tables, Transfer carre, and Transfer linear systems for semi or fully automatic operations.
3. Pad Printing Accessories: Sale of accessories including pretreatment units (ionization, flame, plasma), drying equipment (air diffuser, warm air, infrared, NIR, UV), and cleaning systems (ecoCleaner).
4. Custom Machine Development: Development of customer-specific pad printing machines and automation solutions with integrated transport systems and custom modules tailored to specific applications.
5. Consulting and Sample Services: Pad printing consulting services for external support on application implementation, plus sample printing services using modern equipment to test feasibility of demanding applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

microPrint LC GmbH develops and manufactures pad printing machines (Tampondruckmaschinen) ranging from simple pneumatic entry-level models to fully electric high-end systems with programmable processes. The portfolio includes automated pad printing systems (Portal Line, Network Machines, Rotary Tables, Transfer linear/carre) and accessories for pre-treatment, drying, and cleaning. The company also develops custom machines for specialized applications and provides pad printing consulting and sample printing services.

Product overview

microPrint LC GmbH is a Swiss manufacturer of pad printing machines (Tampondruck) founded in 1995. The product portfolio consists of pad printing machines, pad printing systems (automation), accessories, and services. Machine lines include the Smart Line (entry-level), LCN Line (advanced), MS Line (versatile), MSS Line (tilting-head for vertical surfaces), ML Line (multi-color with up to 7 colors), and Modul Line (programmable with linear motor positioning in 0.01mm increments). Pad printing systems include Portal Line (XY positioning), Network Machines (centrally controlled), Rotary Tables Line, Transfer carre Line, and Transfer linear Line for automated multi-station printing. Accessories cover pretreatment (ionisation, flame, plasma), drying (air, infrared, NIR, UV), and cleaning (ecoCleaner). The company also develops custom machines for specialized applications and provides consulting and sample printing services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smart Line Entry-level pneumatic pad printing machine suitable for basic applications. Part of the standard machine range from simple pneumatic models to fully electric systems.
• LCN Line Single-color pad printing machine with advanced positioning capabilities. Features programmable pad stroke and precise control over tampon hub speed.
• MS Line Versatile single-color pad printing machine suitable for a wide range of applications. Supports integration with various handling and pretreatment systems.
• MSS Line Tilting-head pad printing machine designed for systems where the print object cannot be turned. The pad can be turned by 90 degrees (pneumatic) or adjusted freely between 0 and 90 degrees (electric). Ideal for printing on vertical surfaces such as car brake linings on conveyor belts.
• ML Line Multi-color pad printing machine with electric positioning and optional pneumatic or electric pad stroke. Features programmable procedures, touchscreen display control, and capability to position multiple print images on a single cliché. Supports up to 7 colors using 56mm doctoring cups.
• Modul Line Single-color pad printing machine line with electric positioning and optional pneumatic or electric pad stroke. Features X and Y positions controlled by linear motors in 0.01mm increments, programmable through graphic touchscreen. Multiple units can be combined and operated via single display.
• Portal Line Multi-color pad printing system with XY positioning using a single part fixture. Operates via linear motor with integrated pre-treatment, drying, and laser labeling capabilities. Parts retainer can be rotated for complex printing applications.
• Network Machines Centrally controlled pad printing system for customers building custom systems. Comprises display, power box, and multiple pad printers connected in star configuration. Supports CanOpen, Profibus, or Ethernet communication protocols.
• Rotary Tables Line Automation solution using rotary indexing tables for pad printing. Allows loading and unloading during printing cycle. Supports all standard machines with integrated pre- and post-treatment capabilities.
• Transfer carre Line Compact multi-station system using 4 to 10 print stations in minimal space. Suitable for many print designs with high volume requirements. Supports Module Machines and Module Line units with 0.01mm tolerance.
• Transfer linear Line Plate-based transport system where plates move between printing stations. Features lifts for level changes and variable number of holders for different production speeds. Supports pre/post-treatment, rotating, and loading/unloading stations.
• Pretreatment Units Surface treatment equipment including ionisation units (static charge reduction), flame treatment (surface tension increase), and plasma treatment (most effective, reaches 10nm depth). Custom solutions also available.
• Drying Equipment Drying solutions including air diffuser systems, warm air guns, infrared lights, NIR (near-infrared) lights, and UV-light curing systems. Available as integrated or standalone customer-specific units.
• ecoCleaner Cleaning System Eco-friendly water-based cleaning unit for pad printers. Uses Osmeco-developed cleaning medium that is odor-free, non-explosive, and non-flammable. Features recycling of cleaning agent with automatic ink separation and waste collection.
• 5-Star Multi-Color Machine (Special Machine) High-speed 5-color pad printing machine with five printing units around a rotating table. Supports 86mm or 120mm ink cups. Features parallel ink pickup, transfer, and pad cleaning for maximum speed. Requires only one part fixture.
• RP5 Car Rim Printing Machine (Special Machine) Specialized pad printing machine for printing on car rims with camera-based alignment to valve hole. Features extended pad motion capability and precise angle adjustment for optimal print positioning.
• Pad Printing Consulting External support service for pad printing application implementation, based on long-term experience across various industries.
• Sample Printing Service Feasibility testing service for challenging pad printing applications using state-of-the-art pad printing machines for sample prints.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Teca-Print: Swiss-headquartered pad printing machine manufacturer with a broad product portfolio of standard and custom systems. Direct competitor to microPrint in pad printing equipment for industrial decoration and marking, sharing the Swiss precision-engineering positioning.
• Inkcups Now: US-based manufacturer of pad printing equipment, inks, and supplies serving promotional products, apparel, and industrial decoration. Directly comparable pad printing machinery business with similar technology stack and customization approach.
• Comdec Inc. North American pad printing equipment manufacturer offering standard and custom pad printing machines, platens, and accessories. Directly comparable in custom-built pad printing systems for industrial applications.
• Pad Print Machinery of Vermont (PPM): US-based specialist in pad printing equipment and supplies, including custom-engineered systems and automation. Directly comparable niche pad printing equipment manufacturer with similar customization capabilities to microPrint.
• Printex (a Coatings Brand): Pad printing equipment and supplies manufacturer serving industrial decoration markets. Comparable in product offering (machines, tooling, inks) and customer base of industrial printers and decorators.
• Madag (Tampon-print / Madag Drucktechnik): Swiss pad printing machinery manufacturer producing machines, automation, and accessories. Closely comparable to microPrint in target customers (industrial decoration) and product categories; historical connection via founder Rudolf Bührer who developed the MP100 for Madag.

Broad incumbents

• Markem-Imaje: Industrial coding, marking, and traceability solutions provider offering inkjet, laser, and label systems. Broad incumbent operating in adjacent product identification markets where pad printing is one of several technologies used.
• Domino Printing Sciences: Global industrial printing and marking technology company specializing in coding, marking, and digital printing solutions. Broad incumbent with overlapping industrial decoration and marking applications where pad printing competes.
• Videojet Technologies: Global industrial coding and marking equipment manufacturer (part of Danaher) offering inkjet, laser, thermal transfer, and label-applicator systems. Broad incumbent competing with pad printing in industrial marking and product identification applications.
• ITW (Illinois Tool Works) – Pad Printing Systems: Global diversified industrial manufacturer with pad printing and marking equipment offerings among a broad portfolio. Larger incumbent providing competing pad printing solutions with greater resources and geographic reach than specialist microPrint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/microprint-lc-gmbh

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 Microprint Lc