Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics

The pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries in the UK and Ireland are key sectors contributing significantly to both economies, driving innovation and global competitiveness. 

The pharmaceutical industry, particularly, has a long-standing reputation for producing cutting-edge medicines and therapies, supported by world-class research and development (R&D) facilities. Major multinational companies, alongside a thriving network of local and start-up firms, play a critical role in drug discovery, manufacturing, and clinical trials. The UK’s strategic commitment to science, through its universities and institutions, and Ireland’s favorable business environment, including tax incentives, have made both nations central hubs for the life sciences sector.

In parallel, the cosmetics industry in the UK and Ireland continues to flourish, driven by rising consumer demand for personal care, skincare, and beauty products. The growing interest in sustainability, natural ingredients, and innovative formulations has influenced market trends, while regulations in both countries ensure high standards of safety and product quality. With increasing emphasis on ethical practices and eco-friendly packaging, the cosmetics industry is adapting to the evolving expectations of consumers. Together, these sectors form a robust part of the UK and Ireland’s industrial landscape, benefiting from their skilled workforce, innovation culture, and access to global markets.

Research plays a fundamental role in both the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries in the UK and Ireland, driving innovation and ensuring the development of safe, effective products. In the pharmaceutical sector, research is critical for drug discovery, clinical trials, and the advancement of treatments for a wide range of medical conditions. Companies invest heavily in R&D to explore new compounds, improve existing therapies, and ensure regulatory compliance, often collaborating with universities and research institutions. Similarly, in the cosmetics industry, research focuses on understanding skin biology, testing the efficacy and safety of ingredients, and developing new formulations that meet consumer demands for performance and sustainability. Scientific research underpins innovation in both industries, ensuring that products not only meet high safety standards but also address evolving consumer and healthcare needs.

Many of Mi-Net’s products are used within the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry both for the processing of materials and the detailed analysis afterwards. We are always amazed to learn how much thought goes into the development of everyday products, for example the level of analysis performed to ensure pharmaceutical tablets are easily swallowed.

Key Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics product categories at Mi-Net:

Materials Processing – Technologies such as Homogenization are used for the dispersion, mixing or pulverization of materials used to create cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Profilometers – Tools used to analyse the surface topography of materials. There is an application example below where profilometry has been used to measure the surface topography of pharmaceutical tablets.

Thin Film Metrology – Tools such as ellipsometers and reflectometers used to measure coating thicknesses.