Dolomite Microfluidics

HardwareRoyston, Hertfordshire, UKFounded 2005· One of 1818 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Former UK microfluidics hardware brand (Fluidic Factory 3D printer for sealed COC chips; pumps, chips, systems); product line discontinued by Unchained Labs in March 2026 after 2023 acquisition of Blacktrace Holdings.

CEO / Founder: Mark Gilligan
Team Size: 11-50
Stage: Defunct
Total Funding: $25M
Latest Round: Acquired
Key Investors: Maven Capital Partners; Oxford Sciences Innovation; MMC Ventures; Syncona

Technology & Products

Key Products

DISCONTINUED (Mar 2026): Fluidic Factory 3D printer; Microfluidic systems (Mitos P-Pump, µEncapsulator, Telos, etc.); Components (pumps, chips, connectors); Specialist chemicals — product line retired by Unchained Labs; support/parts wind-down only

Technological Advantage

Proprietary 3D printing process ensures water-tight, sealed fluidic paths in microfluidic devices, protected by being a first-mover in this niche (launched 2015). Advantage is replicable but defended by early market entry and specialized expertise in microfluidics.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Reduces microfluidic chip prototyping cost to $1 per chip and enables rapid, on-demand fabrication of sealed devices, accelerating R&D timelines from weeks to days for drug development, diagnostics, and lab-on-a-chip applications.

How They Differentiate

3x faster prototyping than traditional microfluidic fabrication methods (molding, lithography) and 90% cost reduction per chip ($1 vs. $10+), with sealed devices ready-to-use without post-processing.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Academic institutes, biotechs, start-ups, pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, petrochemical companies, government institutes, and scientific organizations.

Industry Verticals

Biotechnology; Pharmaceutical; Medical; Research; Petrochemical

Competitors

Fluidic Factory (no direct named competitor found in microfluidics 3D printing niche); General microfluidics equipment providers (e.g., Dolomite's own traditional microfluidic systems)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Historically thousands of customers in 50+ countries; product line discontinued by Unchained Labs Mar 2026 — no active commercial growth for Dolomite Microfluidics brand.

Major Milestones

Founded ~2005–2006 (Blacktrace/Dolomite); Fluidic Factory 3D printer launched 2015; Blacktrace Holdings (Dolomite Microfluidics parent) acquired by Unchained Labs Jul 2023; Entire Dolomite Microfluidics product line discontinued / end-of-support announced Mar 2026

Notable Customers

Major academic institutes; Biotechs; Pharmaceutical companies; Government institutes; Mologic (for COVID-19 diagnostic tests)

https://www.dolomite-microfluidics.com

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

Dolomite occupies a unique niche at the intersection of additive manufacturing and microfluidics. Its Fluidic Factory, launched in 2015, is the first commercially available 3D printer purpose-built for producing fluidically sealed microfluidic devices. The system uses a proprietary fused filament fabrication process with cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), an FDA-approved biocompatible material, to create water-tight fluidic paths without post-processing. This eliminates the multi-step molding and lithography workflows that traditionally require weeks of lead time and cost $10 or more per chip.

The printer targets academic institutes, biotechs, pharmaceutical companies, and government labs engaged in drug development, diagnostics, and lab-on-a-chip research. Dolomite reports that the Fluidic Factory reduces prototyping time from weeks to days and cuts per-chip cost by roughly 90%, enabling rapid iterative design. Notable applications include COVID-19 diagnostic test development with partner Mologic and 3D cell culturing with Bioneer. The company also supplies traditional microfluidic components such as pumps, chips, and connectors, giving it a broad installed base across over 50 countries.

Dolomite's early entry into microfluidic 3D printing and its specialized expertise in microfluidics serve as its primary defensive moat, though the core FDM process is replicable. The company has raised approximately £20 million from investors including Maven Capital Partners, Oxford Sciences Innovation, MMC Ventures, and Syncona. A key open question is whether larger AM hardware firms will develop competing solutions for the microfluidics vertical, potentially eroding Dolomite's first-mover advantage.