Mikron Automation and 3P innovation announce strategic partnership for integrated DPI manufacturing solution

Warwick, UK and Boudry, Switzerland, April 29, 2026 - 3P innovation, an international automation company specialising in high-precision liquid and powder drug filling systems, and Mikron Automation, a developer of advanced assembly solutions for devices, today announce a long-term strategic partnership for an integrated Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) manufacturing solution.

This partnership has been formed to develop and deliver a fully integrated solution, made up of complementary technologies, for DPI blister strip production, filling and device assembly. It satisfies the growing market demand for efficient and scalable DPI manufacturing processes, where dosing, strip handling and assembly processes have traditionally been addressed as separate unit operations. By aligning these stages, the partnership aims to improve process consistency, facilitate technology transfer and reduce the complexity of scale-up.

Both companies selected to work with each other in a long-term strategic partnership after collaborating on single projects for over a decade. The resultant integrated solution will deliver to the market a continuous pathway from early-stage development through to commercial manufacturing. It will also unify upstream blister strip production with downstream handling and device assembly. This mitigates complexity and risk for the market that is seeking long-term mass production solutions.

Market demand has continued to grow with the increasing prevalence of inflammatory lung diseases, with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continuing to grow in case numbers to epidemic proportions. This growth has been exponentially driven by environmental factors such as pollution and increasing temperatures, as well as a globally aging population.

With the integration, customers will benefit from dedicated and specialised expertise at each stage of the process within a single and unified project framework. This reduces extensive and duplicated project management resources. Early-stage process development undertaken by 3P innovation is designed to translate directly into high-speed production environments supported by Mikron Automation’s assembly systems.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in simplifying DPI manufacturing. With the long-term mass production inhalable solutions that our customers now need for a fast-growing number of patients, a unified solution from industry-leading suppliers will be critical for cost-effective and reduced-risk delivery,” said David Johnson, Sales and Marketing Director at 3P innovation. “The combination of both our expertise and technology will provide customers with a more efficient and reliable route to market, supporting their goals in inhalation therapy manufacturing.”

“Collaborating with 3P innovation will deliver the fully integrated manufacturing solution that the market now needs,” said Philip Kraus, Head of Division Mikron Automation. “Faced with an increasing number of chronic patients, the market is demanding a more comprehensive and cohesive approach to DPI production, from dose formation through to high-speed device assembly. Having collaborated on projects for over a decade, we will be able to combine our expertise in a single solution to support the evolving needs of the inhalation market.”

“Combining our complementary technologies means we can offer a more cohesive approach to DPI production, from dose formation through to high-speed device assembly,” said Lorenz Buri, Managing Director, Mikron Switzerland AG. “Our joint expertise enables us to support the evolving needs of the inhalation market.”

3P innovation’s advanced blister form, fill and seal capability includes its Rotary Turret technology, which utilises a continuously rotating disk with precision-engineered cavities to form consistent powder slugs, enabling accurate and repeatable dosing of inhalation formulations. These doses are transferred into blister pockets on a moving strip, which is subsequently sealed and cut. The platform is designed to support scale-up, with throughput capabilities of up to 7,200 doses per minute.

Mikron Automation’s long-standing experience in delivering high‑performance strip‑coiling and device‑assembly systems underpins and strengthens this capability. Its proven platforms support both clinical and commercial production, enabling scalable, repeatable processes for efficient downstream handling and inhalation‑device assembly.