Micro annular gear pumps have been awarded as one winner of the "365 Landmarks in the Land of Ideas” contest, hosted by the "Germany - Land of Ideas" nation-branding initiative with its patron, German President Horst Köhler

This initiative highlights Germany's innovative ideas in the field of business, environment, sport, science, education, culture and society. There have been more than 2,000 applications for the year 2009.

The highly innovative micro annular gear pumps (mzr-pumps) are designed and produced by HNP Mikrosysteme GmbH, a German-based company with 36 employees. mzr-pumps are miniaturized rotating displacement pumps. They are used where small volumes or volume flows must be applied precisely and fast. These pumps are characterised by low pulse delivery, minimal dead volume, long service life, small dimensions, resistant materials and ease of maintenance. Four series of mzr-pumps cover the sub-micro litre to litre range for both non-lubricating and highly viscous liquids.

Beside several application possibilities at plant engineering and construction, chemical processing and printed electronics, mzr-pumps are used for demanding metering tasks in the field of biotechnology and analytical instrumentation.

With continuous product innovation and strong focus on new markets, HNP Mikrosysteme GmbH resists the current economic depression. Especially, sales volume in the field of analytical instrumentation increases heavily due to the implementation of mzr-pumps in a new generation of robots for liquid sample handling. Future applications are superior dosing tasks for solvents including conductive and semi-conductive polymers, handling of organometallic precursors as well as application of polishing suspensions.

HNP Mikrosysteme has developed from a start-up company to one of the market leaders for micro pumps in just one decade. Today HNP Mikrosysteme shows an annular growth rate of 25 percent. The company has reached a sales volume of EUR 4 million in 2008. With an export share exceeding 70 percent major markets of HNP Mikrosysteme are outside of Germany. This strong export is supported by an international distribution network throughout Europe, North America and Asia.