A cardboard plate to separate the desks of schoolchildren, you had to think about it. In Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne), EDC Transmouss adapts its production to barrier measures which have become the norm in schools until further notice.
Like a certain number of companies, this SME of 14 employees, specialized in the manufacture of corrugated cardboard packaging since 1993, took advantage of deconfinement to reinvent itself. "We wanted to solve this problem of recovery and health safety of children", explains Romaric Dussus, director of the company, whose turnover amounts to almost 3 million euros.
Closed for several weeks during containment, EDC Transmouss returned to service on April 6. Based on an internal design office, the idea of a cardboard table divider was born in less than a month: "The cardboard slides directly onto the side of the desk, using two foldable side flaps, ”says Romaric Dussus.
With an ultra-competitive price: around 50 cents per panel, against a minimum of 10 euros on average among competitors. Very cheap, this material mainly replaces Plexiglas, whose office dividers sell for up to 100 euros each. Not to mention the increase in prices among manufacturers, due to the high demand. Some large DIY stores are even out of stock.
The solution is also more ecological: the cardboard is recycled between 75% and 100%. A spearhead for this SME very committed to an eco-responsible approach. Already in 2017, it had manufactured thousands of recyclable cardboard and foam first aid mannequins for children.
What to protect hundreds of classes
To design a product that is suitable for all types of premises, the 31-year-old entrepreneur first collaborated with his children's school in Mortagne-au-Perche. “The establishment participated in the development of this product. So we provided them with prototypes for free, that was the deal, ”explains Romaric Dussus, who is not yet drowning in orders. No worry, however, for the manager, who has not used major investments for this innovation.
In terms of production time, it takes between 8 to 10 working days. "The objective is that it be marketed, with a maximum production of 20,000 copies per week," says Romaric Dussus. Enough to protect hundreds of classes, even if, he says, "with children, the lifespan of a box is around a maximum of one week". We will not prevent schoolchildren from scribbling on the boxes separating them.
Light and resistant
Popular in the food industry, corrugated cardboard accounts for almost 60% of packaging. This French industry weighs 3 billion euros in turnover and nearly 3 million tonnes are produced each year, according to the Corrugated Cardboard Foundation of France.
“It pays me” newsletter
The newsletter that improves your purchasing powerI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
Light, the material “also offers very resistant protection”, underlines Kareen Desbouis, general delegate of the foundation. Eco-responsible, it is 95% recycled on average, its fiber can be reused up to 8 times. "We make packaging with less material than before," she adds. We reduced the weight of the box. An asset for e-commerce, one of the most consumer-oriented sectors.
