patentlawmeister,
I have a bit of experience reviewing specs of fluid bed driers, micro fluidizers, and like equipment. I'm not an expert, but I have a basic understanding.
I typically don't like capital equipment companies, but think MFIC could do well.
I do have to say though, I strongly disagree with your comparisons of MFIC to BIPH. Where MFIC makes the equipment to manufacture billions of dollars worth of products, BIPH has the technology that could be incorporated into billions of dollars worth of products. So for example, lets say MFIC sells 10 microfluidizers for a pharmaceutical production line that could produce $1B in annual revenue...MFIC sells the equipment then they're done. But BIPH is developing technology that could earn them a 3-6% royalty on the total sales of the products that incorporate BIPH's technology....and those royalties should be very high margin revenue once things get rolling for BIPH. Considering BIPH's first partner is BSX....and considering all the patenting BIPH has been doing for MRI-visible stents.....I think there's a good reason why BIPH has been driven to such a high speculative value.
Of course, I'm biased when I say this. as BIPH is currently my largest position :)
....and I should also say I held this same "equipment producer" prejudice against TVIN when I first hear of them back in 2001 when they were trading at $0.30 :)