Our Story

Company History

Miccados GmbH was founded in 2022 by Gerhard Neumaier, a pharmacist with 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. After retiring from executive roles, Gerhard established Miccados as a one-person GmbH with a clear mission: to make precise powder micro-dosing simple, flexible, and reliable for early-stage development teams.

Founder Background

Over three and a half decades, Gerhard held diverse positions across production, business development, and plant management. For more than 20 years, he served as CEO of contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) facing severe economic challenges—leading their turnarounds and securing long-term viability. This blend of technical depth and operational leadership inspired Miccados’ pragmatic approach to tool design and scale-up.

The Insight That Sparked Miccados

In 2019, while working with Perlen Packaging AG (Switzerland) on the development of the single-use dry powder inhaler BLISTair®, Gerhard experienced first-hand how difficult it is to dose very small powder quantities during formulation and device development. To overcome this bottleneck, he designed and built the first manual micro-dosing device for that program—successfully demonstrating that precision doesn’t have to be complex.

From Prototype to Product

Building on that experience, Gerhard founded Miccados GmbH and developed a family of manual powder dosing devices optimized for early R&D. The systems are deliberately engineered to simulate the dosing principles of industrial filling machines, so teams can transition smoothly to existing production equipment once higher volumes are required—reducing transfer risk, time, and cost.

Today

Miccados solutions are now used by customers in Germany, the USA, and China, helping development teams dose small quantities with confidence and maintain a clear line of sight to scale-up.

2019 — Leads development work at Perlen Packaging AG on BLISTair®; builds the first manual micro-doser to meet stringent R&D needs.
2022 — Founds Miccados GmbH (one-person company) after retirement; formalizes the “The Art of Simplicity” design philosophy.
2022–Present — Expands the Miccados device line for micro-dosing in inhalation and nasal applications; focuses on industrial process simulation for straightforward scale-up.
Today — Active customers in Germany, the United States, and China.

Miccados developed a family of manual powder dosing devices optimized for early R&D. The systems are deliberately engineered to simulate the dosing principles of industrial filling machines

We make precise powder micro-dosing simple, flexible, and reliable for early-stage development teams, helping them streamline their workflows and achieve consistent results more efficiently.

Miccados manual powder dosing systems deliver precision, flexibility, and direct compatibility with industrial processes, enabling a seamless scale-up while reducing complexity and supporting consistent, high-quality results.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the dosing principle of the Miccados devices?

The dosing principle is called tamping pin method. The tamping pin principle is applied like so: powder is compacted step by step in the dosing volume until a plug of defined density is formed, which is then transferred into the receptacle.

What dosing accuracy can I expect from the SAK-1?

For crystalline powders, the RSD is typically 2% or less. Cohesive powders are somewhat more challenging, but deviations generally do not exceed 3%. The accuracy also depends to some extent on the operator’s skill. The new electrically actuated SAK-1 eliminates this human factor, ensuring even more consistent results. Overall, the dosing accuracy of Miccados devices is more than sufficient and fully comparable to that of other laboratory dosing systems.

What are the differences between the mechanical and the electrical version of the SAK-1?

The original mechanical SAK-1 was developed with the ambition of creating the simplest possible micro-dosing device. It operates purely mechanically, without the need for auxiliary media such as electricity or compressed air. Due to its robust construction, it is virtually indestructible (although it is not recommended to run a steamroller over it, as this could damage the steamroller). The device can remain unused for months and still be immediately operational. The mechanical version is particularly suited for non-GMP environments, where conditions may be less controlled.

The electrical version incorporates several additional features. The descent of the tamping pin is controlled by an electric motor, ensuring reproducibility and eliminating the human factor, thereby reducing variability between doses. Once parameters are set, consistent results are achieved regardless of operator. Descent speed of the tamping pin can be finely adjusted via a rotary dial, and integrated sensors monitor device status and prevent handling errors. This version is therefore the preferred choice when larger quantities are required. Documentation is also facilitated, as device parameters are clearly defined, making validation straightforward. Consequently, the electrical variant is particularly suitable for GMP-regulated applications, such as the manufacture of clinical trial samples. The trade-off is that it requires electrical power (24 V, supplied by a removable power bank) as well as a controller board and software, which make qualification and operation somewhat more complex.

Reviews

The SAK-1 micro-dosing device was evaluated as part of a Master’s thesis project. The results demonstrate that the SAK-1 offers a promising approach for achieving precise and efficient powder dosing in laboratory environments, particularly for dry powder inhalation (DPI) formulation development. In addition to its accuracy and reproducibility, the device’s capability to simulate drum dosing systems provides a valuable link between laboratory-scale studies and industrial-scale processes, offering a seamless pathway for future scale-up and process optimisation

Prof. Dr. Carsten Ehrhardt

Trinity College Dublin

We tested the SAK-1 as part of a master’s thesis and are very satisfied with the results. The device has proven to be an extremely helpful tool for the manual filling of inhalation powders. We were particularly impressed that the SAK-1 requires very little space, is mobile, and can still dose even highly cohesive powders precisely and consistently. In addition, the dosing process has no impact on the aerodynamic performance. The wide range of matrices allows the filling weights to be adjusted easily, which greatly facilitates the workflow. Overall, the SAK-1 offers a compact, reliable, and flexible solution for precise powder dosing and can effectively relieve us from the manual capsule filling with a spatula in daily work.

Prof. Dr. Regina Scherließ

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Noozle Fluid Technology