What Micromacinazione does

Micromacinazione (Micro-Macinazione SA) is a Swiss pharmaceutical CDMO founded in 1970 in Monteggio, Ticino, specializing exclusively in particle engineering and micronization services for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. The company operates four GMP-inspected production facilities in Switzerland (totaling over 5,700 square meters with 19 GMP production suites and 17 dedicated micronization rooms) plus an FDA-inspected US facility through its parent platform Microsize, providing dual-source manufacturing across two continents. Its core technology portfolio spans fluid-jet milling (Spiral Jet Mills, Opposed Jet Mills, Loop Mills), mechanical milling (Pin Mill, Conical Mill, Centrifugal Impact Mill), and spray drying (APT-2.0 R&D, APT-5.0 Pilot), complemented by particle characterization (laser diffraction, optical microscopy, morphological imaging) and solid-state characterization (XRPD, DSC, DVS). The company operates with containment ranging from OEB 1 to OEB 4B, enabling handling of highly potent APIs down to ≤50 ng/m³, with annual capacity exceeding 1,000 metric tons and processing capability from gram-scale feasibility studies to commercial metric-ton batches.

The business model is project-based B2B contract manufacturing under GMP conditions, serving pharmaceutical API manufacturers (including BCS Class II poorly soluble compounds and HPAPIs), CDMOs across the drug development lifecycle, functional excipient companies, and specialized drug delivery developers requiring aerodynamic particle diameters of 1-5 μm for inhalation formulations. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to project complexity, molecule profile, containment level, and batch scale, with no public pricing disclosed. Customer relationships span small biotechs to large pharma, managed through a direct enterprise field sales motion led by a Sales Manager, supplemented by presence at major industry events (CPHI, DDL) and technical content marketing. Approximately 100 employees support operations across Switzerland and, via Microsize integration, the US.

Ownership transitioned in 2026 when Microsize and Schedio Group jointly acquired Micromacinazione from Lonza (where it had operated as a subsidiary since 2017), with the transaction effective May 1, 2026. Under its new structure, the company has launched the 'Micromill' platform in collaboration with Persist AI — an integrated system for early-stage oral formulation decision-making using only milligrams of API — signaling a strategic push upstream into pre-formulation services. The company holds active GMP certifications from Swissmedic, FDA, and PMDA, and maintains 50+ years of regulatory inspection history that constitutes a significant barrier to entry in pharmaceutical-grade micronization services.

Name

Micromacinazione

Legal name

Micro-Macinazione SA

Website

https://micromacinazione.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Micromacinazione is a Swiss pharmaceutical CDMO founded in 1970, specializing in GMP-compliant particle engineering and micronization services for pharmaceutical APIs, HPAPIs, excipients, and inhalation formulations, serving biotechs through large pharma from gram-scale feasibility to metric-ton commercial batches across four Swiss facilities and a US site via Microsize.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Contract Micronization and Particle Engineering Services

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Crystallization, Particle Engineering & Micronization Services (HLAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD), Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO (HLAGABAA), Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO (HLAGABAB)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical micronization
• Particle engineering services
• Jet milling equipment
• Spray drying CDMO
• GMP contract manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Montoggio

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Full-service pharmaceutical CDMO providing particle engineering and micronization services under GMP conditions. Revenue generated through project-based contracts for process development, feasibility studies, and commercial manufacturing from gram-scale to metric-ton batches.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Micromacinazione is a Swiss-based pharmaceutical CDMO providing contract micronization and particle engineering services under GMP conditions. The company processes APIs, HPAPIs, excipients, controlled substances, and specialty chemicals using jet milling, mechanical milling, and spray drying technologies, supported by comprehensive analytical characterization, from gram-scale feasibility to metric-ton commercial batches. Customers include pharmaceutical API manufacturers, CDMOs, excipient companies, and drug delivery developers from early-stage biotechs to global pharma.

Product overview

Micromacinazione is a Swiss-based pharmaceutical CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) specializing in particle engineering and micronization services. The company offers an integrated platform of particle size reduction technologies including jet milling (Spiral Jet Mills, Opposed Jet Mills, Loop Mills), mechanical milling (Pin Mill, Conical Mill, Centrifugal Impact Mill), and spray drying (APT-2.0 R&D Spray Dryer, APT-5.0 Pilot Spray Dryer). Comprehensive analytical services support the particle engineering workflow with particle characterization (Laser Diffraction, Optical Microscopy, Morphological Characterization) and solid state characterization (DVS, XRPD, DSC). Complementary processing services include Classification, Blending, Cryogenic Processing, Co-Micronization, and Conditioning. The company processes APIs/HAPIs, Excipients, Controlled Substances, and Specialty Chemicals across GMP-compliant facilities in Switzerland. A recent collaboration with Persist AI and Microsize has led to the launch of the 'Micromill' platform using the SSM20 mini mill for early-stage formulation decision-making.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contract Micronization Services Contract micronization using spiral jet mills, opposed jet mills, and loop mills for pharmaceutical APIs, HPAPIs, and specialty chemicals, achieving sub-10 micron particle size under GMP conditions from gram-scale to metric-ton batches.
• Contract Milling Services Mechanical milling services using pin mills, conical mills, and centrifugal impact mills for fine to intermediate grinding of brittle drug substances, de-lumping of agglomerated powders, and particle size control with minimal shear.
• Contract Spray Drying Services
• Particle Characterization Services
• Solid State Characterization Services
• Particle Classification Services
• Blending Services (Mix&Mill)
• Cryogenic Processing Services
• Co-Micronization Services
• Conditioning Services
• Micromill Platform Integrated decision-making platform for early-stage oral formulation, combining the SSM20 mini mill with AI-driven experimentation and proprietary process analytical technology to enable go/no-go decisions on micronization and bioavailability strategies at the earliest drug development stages using only milligrams of API.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sub-10-micron particle size achievable for bioavailability enhancement
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Persist AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Strategic collaboration to launch the 'Micromill' platform - world's first integrated system enabling oral formulation decision-making using only milligrams of active pharmaceutical ingredient. Platform combines Micromacinazione's SSM20 mini mill with Persist AI's AI-driven experimentation and proprietary process analytical technology for go/no-go decisions on micronization and bioavailability strategies at earliest drug development stages.
• MicrosizeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025Microsize acquired Micromacinazione along with Schedio Group, creating an integrated global micronization platform with dual-source manufacturing capability across Microsize's FDA-inspected US facilities and Micromacinazione's GMP-inspected operations in Switzerland. Transaction completed May 1, 2026. Forms integrated European-American network for advanced particle engineering combining CDMO expertise with process equipment and containment technologies.
• Schedio GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationSchedio Group co-invested alongside Microsize in the acquisition of Micromacinazione from Lonza. Schedio provides world-class equipment for particle characterization and operator/product protection with tailored solutions for particle engineering processes. Strengthening European operational base with focus on process equipment and containment technologies.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hovione: Portuguese-headquartered pharmaceutical CDMO with deep specialization in particle engineering, jet milling, and spray drying for bioavailability enhancement. Hovione is the most direct global competitor to Micromacinazione, serving overlapping customers (big pharma to small biotechs) with similar micronization and HPAPI capabilities.
• Particle Sciences (Lubrizol Life Science): US-based pharmaceutical CDMO specializing in particle engineering, formulation development, and drug delivery for complex APIs. Directly comparable niche-focused CDMO targeting bioavailability enhancement and difficult-to-formulate compounds.

Broad incumbents

• Catalent: Large global pharmaceutical CDMO offering broad services including particle engineering, softgel and oral solid dose manufacturing. While not specialized in micronization, Catalent competes for the same customer wallet with integrated formulation and manufacturing solutions at greater scale.
• Metrics Contract Services: US-based pharmaceutical CDMO providing solid oral dose development and manufacturing services. While broader than Micromacinazione, Metrics competes for similar pharmaceutical customers needing formulation support and GMP manufacturing.
• Lonza: Swiss-headquartered global CDMO and previous owner of Micromacinazione from 2017-2026. Lonza competes across small-molecule API, drug product, and biologics services with broader scale, but retains overlapping particle engineering capabilities in its small-molecule business.
• Evotec (Aptuit): Global contract research and development organization offering integrated drug discovery, pre-clinical, and CMC services including formulation development. Overlaps with Micromacinazione in early-stage pharmaceutical development customers and formulation support.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon): Through its Patheon CDMO business, Thermo Fisher offers large-scale pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services including particle engineering and formulation. Competes for the same enterprise pharmaceutical customers with broader service portfolios.

Emerging players

• Ascendia Pharma: US-based specialty CDMO focused on poorly soluble drugs and complex formulations including nanoemulsions and amorphous solid dispersions. Smaller and emerging player targeting a similar customer base of formulators dealing with BCS Class II compounds.
• Eurofins CDMO: Eurofins' contract development and manufacturing arm offering small-molecule API and drug product services across Europe. Emerging player in the CDMO space with adjacent capabilities to Micromacinazione's particle engineering services.

Regional players

• Fareva: France-headquartered global CDMO with API and drug product manufacturing capabilities across Europe. Regional competitor serving European pharmaceutical customers with comparable formulations services, though not specialized in particle engineering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/micro-macinazione-s.a.

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Micromacinazione