KIMYA supports the start-up CAPS ME during its industrialization phase

Based in Nantes, France, the start-up CAPS ME is benefiting from the expertise of KIMYA to help it industrialize its solution designed to facilitate the refilling of reusable coffee capsules. Having successfully conducted a pre-ordering campaign in late 2020 and now determined to accelerate its growth, CAPS ME pursues its partnership with KIMYA, the additive manufacturing division of the ARMOR group, to produce an additional 6,000 refilling systems (composed of 24,000 parts).

Additive manufacturing to support industrialization

Based in Nantes, France, the start-up CAPS ME is benefiting from the expertise of KIMYA to help it industrialize its solution designed to facilitate the refilling of reusable coffee capsules. Conceived during the first lockdown by two students, the CAPS ME solution consists of a ground coffee receptacle fixed to a 3D printed refilling mechanism. The system enables reusable capsules to be filled with the correct dose. Having successfully conducted a preordering campaign in late 2020, the start-up is continuing to grow and is relying on KIMYA’s know-how in this new phase of industrialization with the objective of producing an additional 6,000 refilling systems (composed of 24,000 parts).

A flexible and bespoke production process

In addition to enabling CAPS ME to achieve its target cost, KIMYA is placing its industrial capacity at the service of the start-up while offering bespoke support and a flexible production process. Based on a first prototype developed by the start-up, the KIMYA team has assisted CAPS ME in configuring the 3D files and printers. The entrepreneurs have also benefited from the vast range of 3D filaments offered by Kimya by incorporating within the refilling mechanism the Kimya PETG-S Black 3D filament, which meets the food contact standard for dry products.

“Additive manufacturing guarantees us great flexibility, by enabling us to continue to move forward in iterations even during the 3D printing of the parts. Yet this flexibility is not achieved at the expense of product quality and we have benefited from Kimya’s expertise in quality control throughout the project”, explains Jean de Boisredon, co-founder of CAPS ME

An environmentally friendly production process

In France, just 1 single-use capsule in 5 is recycled1. CAPS ME is aiming to encourage consumers to use reusable coffee capsules by simplifying the refilling step. The decision to use additive manufacturing to print the refilling mechanism was also taken for environmental reasons.

“Additive manufacturing means that the weight of the finished product is virtually identical to the weight of the material required for its production. This is why from the start of the design phase, by processing and upcycling materials from collected waste, the environmental impact of Kimya is reduced”, explains Pierre-Antoine Pluvinage, Business Development Director at the KIMYA additive manufacturing division of the ARMOR group.

“Jean and I were determined to develop a solution with real meaning. This is why being able to rely on a production line in France was also a key criterion in our choice of partner. Printed directly in Nantes, the refilling mechanism is then assembled in the Paris region by workers with disabilities at an ESAT social inclusion establishment”, concludes Thibaut Louvet, cofounder of CAPS ME.

Press contact:
Olivia Franciosi (Ohwood)
+33 6 68 26 78 14 / [email protected]