Grains, drops, air bubbles - even the smallest deviations can lead to quality losses in industry. So chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological processes have to be audited on a regular basis. This is not an easy task. To improve the situation, the Berlin start-up SOPAT (Smart Online Particle Analysis Technology) has developed a new measuring technology. A photo-optical probe with integrated image processing software delivers images of the tiniest particles in real time. Production errors, for example pigments in paint or bubbles in whipped cream, can be identified and remedied. As a result, manufacturing conserves resources, is more efficient, and is safer.