If the digital welding, innovative technology patented by Sealester, opens the field of possibilities to the industrialists in terms of refills and flexible packaging, it places its inventor on a real launching pad.
After having been rewarded by the profession (Emballage Magazine prize) and having closed a fund raising at the end of 2022, the young start-up, which already collaborates with big names like Léa Nature, buys at the beginning of this year the packaging activity of its colleague DeltaNeo. With this new industrial production tool, Sealester's expertise can now take a whole new dimension...
When Clément Fourmaux, an engineer by training, created Sealester in 2020, with the support of BPI France and Ademe, he intended to offer a new approach to the refill and flexible packaging market for the cosmetics, wellness, food and home-care industries. This approach favors creativity in the service of eco-design, reduction of lead times and costs, as well as the ability to produce any size of series - starting with custom-made products and small series.
To do this, he has developed an innovative technology: digital welding.
Based on a unique tool that welds the films together by moving over them, according to a programmed trajectory, this technique offers many advantages.
It allows to conceive and design prototypes in record time (3 days), to create unconventional ergonomic shapes (eco-refills with spouts) based on original and eco responsible materials (paper containing apple fiber, compostable kraft, mono materials...).
In addition to its flexibility, it is economical because it does not require any specific tooling, it reduces material waste (simple and quick set-up) and it uses little energy (only the welding head heats up).
At the end of 2022, Emballage Magazine recognized the interest of digital sealing by awarding Sealester its "promising start" packaging Oscar (production category).
At the same time, with this technology and its expertise, Sealester closed a fundraising of 800K€ with investors and banking partners.
This one allows him to proceed, at the beginning of this year, to the acquisition of the packaging activity of his historical partner, the industrial DeltaNeo. With a team of 10 collaborators completely taken over and 4 main machines (shaping and placing of caps), Sealester acquires an industrial tool already in place to exploit all the power of its technology and its know-how in terms of conception and design. The company can from now on satisfy, in addition to the made-to-measure, as well as the small and medium series, the requests of big productions.
In a dynamic flexible packaging market, Clément Fourmaux, which now employs 18 people (8 by the end of 2022), plans to quadruple its turnover by the end of 2023, to reach nearly 2 million euros.
It will have a strong presence at specialized exhibitions throughout the year (Pharmapack, CFIA Rennes, Interpack Düsseldorf, Natexpo and Prod & Pack).
After concluding two first international deals in 2022 (Great Britain and Finland), Sealester is considering a significant development of its activity outside of France, with the possibility of selling its technology in addition to its solutions.
