MiniFAB

What MiniFAB does

SCHOTT MINIFAB is a contract design, development, and manufacturing services provider specializing in polymer microfluidic and glass-based diagnostic and life-science research consumables. Operating as a business unit within SCHOTT AG — a privately held German specialty glass conglomerate owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation — the company provides end-to-end services from initial R&D through commercial-scale production under a "Concept to Commercialization" stage-gate process. It serves two primary customer segments: in vitro diagnostics (IVD) companies developing allergy, molecular, and immunological diagnostic consumables, and life science research tool developers requiring microarray, microfluidic, and lab-on-chip manufacturing infrastructure.

The company's core technology platform rests on 20+ years of accumulated expertise in microarray printing, microfluidic device fabrication, glass substrate processing, functional coating chemistries, and precision injection molding. Its proprietary product portfolio includes the SCHOTT® Microarray platform (pioneered for the Human Genome Project), NEXTERION® glass substrates in bonded, coated, and structured variants, and SCHOTT® Reagent Blister technology for integrated reagent storage. Production infrastructure spans three continents with facilities in Phoenix, Jena, and Melbourne, supporting both low-volume pilot lines and fully automated high-volume manufacturing.

Revenue is generated through three streams: contract manufacturing services billed on production volume and complexity, contract product development services covering R&D through prototype feasibility, and direct product sales of NEXTERION® and SCHOTT® branded consumables. Pricing is quote-based and customized per project, with multi-year contracts typical for enterprise IVD customers. The company pursues a sales-led B2B go-to-market, supported by content marketing (Solutions Magazine, corporate website), YouTube video, industry trade events, and direct inquiry/quote request funnels. No public pricing, named customer logos, or revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

MiniFAB

Legal name

SCHOTT MINIFAB

Website

https://www.minifab.com.au/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SCHOTT MINIFAB is a contract manufacturer of polymer microfluidic and glass-based diagnostic and life-science research consumables, serving IVD companies and life science research tool developers across production facilities in the USA, Germany, and Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Manufacturing solutions from low-volume pilot lines to fully automated high-volume production for diagnostic and life science research consumables. Revenue generated through manufacturing fees based on production volume and complexity.
2. Contract Product Development: Stage-gate development process supporting customers from initial R&D phase through prototype feasibility studies to scalable manufacturing infrastructure. Revenue generated through development service fees and engineering services.
3. Product Sales (NEXTERION® and SCHOTT® branded products): Sale of cleaned and coated substrates, microarrays, reagent blisters, and glass substrates for research, diagnostics and life science applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MiniFAB is a contract design, development, and manufacturing services provider for diagnostic and life science research consumables, operating as a business unit of SCHOTT AG. The company manufactures polymer microfluidic devices, glass substrates (NEXTERION® coated, bonded, and structured variants), microarrays (SCHOTT® Microarrays), and reagent blister storage components, transitioning customer products from R&D through commercial-scale production via a stage-gate process.

Product overview

MiniFAB is a contract design, development, and manufacturing services provider for diagnostic and life science consumables, operating as part of SCHOTT. The portfolio centers on the NEXTERION® glass substrate product line (including bonded, coated, and structured variants) for biochip, microfluidic, and lab-on-chip applications, complemented by SCHOTT® Microarrays (first-generation microarray printing technology) and SCHOTT® Reagent Blisters for reagent containment in IVD and life science devices. The company also offers contract manufacturing services including pilot line production and precision injection molding, enabling seamless transition from concept to commercialization for diagnostic and life science research consumables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SCHOTT Microarrays: First-generation microarray platform pioneered in response to the Human Genome Project demands.
• NEXTERION
• SCHOTT Reagent Blister

Products and services

• SCHOTT® Microarrays First-generation microarray printing technology pioneered in response to the Human Genome Project and continuously refined over two decades for diagnostic and life science research applications.
• NEXTERION® Glass Substrates Glass substrates for biochip, microfluidic, lab-on-chip, molecular diagnostics, immunological diagnostics, and agro-food-testing applications. Available in coated, bonded, and structured variants.
• SCHOTT® Reagent Blister Blister reagent storage technology for seamless integration of reagents into in vitro diagnostics (IVD), life sciences, and microfluidic applications. Made from high gas barrier, chemical and biologically compatible materials.
• Contract Manufacturing Services Contract manufacturing solutions from low-volume pilot lines to fully automated high-volume production for diagnostic and life science research consumables, leveraging precision injection molding and polymer microfluidic device manufacturing capabilities.
• Contract Product Development Stage-gate development process supporting customers from initial R&D phase through prototype feasibility studies to scalable manufacturing infrastructure, providing engineering and design services for diagnostic and life science consumables.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SCHOTT AG: The German specialty glass parent company that owns SCHOTT MINIFAB. Operates broadly in pharmaceutical glass, optics, electronics, and home appliance glass; SCHOTT MINIFAB is its dedicated life science contract manufacturing arm, and the two share glass-substrate technology, branding, and corporate infrastructure.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences tools and diagnostics leader with overlapping microarray, immunoassay, and IVD consumable capabilities. Comparable as both a potential customer and a competitor in the broader diagnostic and life science research consumables space where SCHOTT MINIFAB operates.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Major life science research and clinical diagnostics company with strong microarray and droplet digital PCR consumables franchises. Comparable to SCHOTT MINIFAB in microarray technology roots and serving overlapping life science research customers.
• Agilent Technologies: Provides microarrays, genomics, and analytical instruments for life science and diagnostics. Comparable to SCHOTT MINIFAB through its microarray product line and its relationships with IVD and life science research customers.
• Corning Incorporated: Specialty glass and materials manufacturer with established positions in life science lab consumables (Corning Life Sciences) and microplate/microarray products. Comparable to SCHOTT MINIFAB in glass-based consumables and a potential competitor in coated substrates.

Direct peers

• Dolomite Microfluidics: UK-based microfluidic device and component manufacturer offering both standard products and contract design/manufacturing services for lab-on-chip and diagnostic applications. Directly comparable as a microfluidic CDMO serving similar IVD and life science customers.
• thinXXS Microtechnology: German specialty CDMO focused on polymer-based microfluidic consumables for diagnostics and life sciences. Directly comparable to SCHOTT MINIFAB in polymer microfluidics contract manufacturing and IVD consumable production.
• Micronit Microtechnologies: Dutch microfluidics and lab-on-chip company offering design, prototyping, and contract manufacturing of glass and polymer microfluidic devices. Directly comparable to SCHOTT MINIFAB in microfluidic consumables and overlapping customer base in IVD and life sciences.

Emerging players

• uFluidix: Canadian microfluidic device specialist providing design, prototyping, and contract manufacturing for diagnostic and biotech applications. Comparable as a niche microfluidic CDMO serving emerging IVD and life science research customers.
• TE Connectivity (Microfluidics): TE Connectivity offers precision microfluidics and medical device components including contract manufacturing capabilities for diagnostic consumables. Comparable as an established component manufacturer with microfluidic capabilities targeting IVD and medical device customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MiniFAB_
• Facebookfacebook.com/MiniFAB1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minifab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 MiniFAB