SOPAT

In chemical, pharmaceutical, and materials processing industries, understanding what is happening inside a reaction vessel or production line in real time is essential to product quality, process efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The behaviour of particles, crystals, droplets, and bubbles in complex multiphase systems determines the physical and chemical properties of the final product, and deviations from target particle size distributions or morphologies can render an entire batch unsaleable. Conventional approaches to monitoring these phenomena rely on offline laboratory sampling — a process that is slow, introduces sampling errors, and provides information too late to prevent quality deviations from developing into costly failures. SOPAT has developed in-line optical image analysis technology that addresses exactly this challenge. The system is photo-optical and image-based, using high-speed cameras and sophisticated image processing algorithms to analyse particle size distributions, shapes, concentrations, and dynamic behaviour directly within the process stream — without removing material for laboratory analysis and without interrupting the process. This real-time, in-line capability is what distinguishes SOPAT from conventional particle characterisation instruments, which are designed for laboratory use on extracted samples rather than for continuous process monitoring. The applications are broad and commercially significant. In pharmaceutical crystallisation, tight control of particle size and habit is critical for downstream processing and drug bioavailability. In specialty chemical production, the size and size distribution of emulsion droplets or precipitated particles determines product performance. In food processing, the behaviour of fat crystals, starch granules, or dispersed phases affects texture, stability, and consumer acceptance. SOPAT's technology provides the continuous, quantitative data feed that allows engineers to monitor these phenomena as they occur and respond to deviations before they become costly. The company designs, develops, and sells this measurement technology alongside the scientific expertise needed to deploy it effectively in demanding industrial environments. Co-founder Jörn Emmerich is not only an accomplished engineer but a figure of genuine institutional weight in the particle measurement field — serving as a member of the ISO standards committee for particle measurement technology, co-founder of a body dedicated to strengthening standardisation and research in the field, and co-founder and vice president of a professional organisation focused on particle measurement science. This institutional engagement reflects SOPAT's commitment to shaping the scientific and regulatory frameworks within which its technology operates, not just selling instruments into existing markets. For manufacturers in pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and advanced materials, SOPAT's in-line measurement capability offers a clear path toward tighter process control, reduced waste, more consistent product quality, and more defensible compliance documentation. The growth strategy is built on partnerships and ecosystem development within the process analytics and process analytical technology communities.