Technicaps highlights its three complementary areas of expertise
Over the past two years, Technicaps’ executives have invested in strengthening their manufacturing facilities by establishing a new 3,000-square-meter injection molding shop, while modernizing their production capabilities through the integration of new assembly robots and focusing more than ever on innovation. Beyond these investments, they have structured their strategy around three complementary areas of expertise: thermosetting materials, engineering thermoplastics, and molded cellulose. In 2026, they intend to continue this momentum. “We will continue to invest in materials innovation,” explains Arnaud Revel, President, “to strengthen our production capabilities and support our customers in developing increasingly sustainable solutions, without ever compromising on the aesthetic excellence and industrial quality that have built Technicaps’ reputation. In a rapidly evolving regulatory environment, we are more determined than ever to be an innovation partner capable of anticipating market shifts rather than simply reacting to them. ” As for global trade tensions, “we view this period as an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our customers. More than ever, they are looking for reliable industrial partners capable of innovating, producing locally, and securing their supply chains. ”
Technicaps currently operates two production sites in France, employs nearly 90 people, and generates approximately 14 million euros in revenue. Nearly 40% of its business is conducted internationally, with a presence among the world’s leading players in the beauty industry.
Since its founding in 1965 in Challes, in the Sarthe department, the French company has developed unique expertise centered on the design and compression of cellulose-based aminoplast resins. Using cellulose as its raw material, Technicaps has developed three distinct areas of expertise, all with the same goal: to transform, decorate, and assemble the material to bring its clients’ visions to life.
The compression molding of thermosetting resin is truly the company’s core expertise. Thanks to its 55 rotary presses, which can produce between 2 and 60 molds, this technology offers particularly interesting design possibilities.
“Specializing in the design of premium closure and packaging solutions, we are the only player in the market to offer a wide range of sustainable products made from cellulose. We can create a variety of shapes and produce precise, detailed high-definition engravings,” explains Arnaud Revel, “achieving unparalleled color depth and an incomparable ‘cool’ feel. All these advantages, combined with a natural density of 1.5 and a metallic sound, make this technology virtually impossible to counterfeit. And that’s not all! Compressing thermosetting resins also offers numerous environmental benefits. Composed of 40% cellulose and 70% bio-based materials, our resins enable the production of high-quality products that are also environmentally friendly. By choosing them, we give products a virtually unlimited lifespan and significantly reduce their carbon footprint.”
It is true that this natural homopolymer is found in vast quantities on Earth. This organic molecule alone accounts for 35 to 40% of terrestrial plant biomass, making it the most abundant family of compounds in plants and terrestrial ecosystems. A 100% renewable and biodegradable material, the cellulose used by the company is also 100% sourced in France from sustainably managed forests certified by PEFC and FSC. As for plastic injection molding—a technology better suited to projects requiring complex shapes and high production capacity—Technicaps has equipped itself with a fleet of fully automated electric and hydraulic injection molding machines ranging from 100 to 320 metric tons.
“As with the other two technologies,” Arnaud Revel emphasizes, “respect for the environment remains paramount for us. That’s why we offer a wide selection of recyclable plastics, made from cellulose, post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, or chemically recyclable materials. Finally, regarding molded cellulose, while this technology remains more economically demanding today, it offers very promising environmental performance—particularly in terms of life cycle assessments—and opens up new opportunities for brands that want to take their sustainability efforts even further.”
Environment: Offering the Most Appropriate Technology
“I think it’s important to move beyond an overly simplistic view of sustainability,” emphasizes Arnaud Revel. “There is no single solution today that meets all of the market’s needs. Every brand has its own identity, its own sphere of influence, and its own expectations regarding the product experience. Our role, therefore, is to offer the most relevant technology based on this balance.
For refillable products or items designed to last, our thermoset material solutions are a particularly effective answer. Their durability, long-term resilience, and perceived quality make them materials perfectly suited to a philosophy of reuse and longevity.
Conversely, for products with shorter lifecycles, our injection-molded solutions using recycled materials combine significant aesthetic value, complex geometries, and excellent recyclability, all while meeting the demands of the beauty market.
Finally, we strongly believe in the potential of molded cellulose for certain premium applications.
Our strength lies precisely in not favoring one technology over another. We help each client choose the solution that best aligns with their positioning, the experience they wish to offer, and their environmental goals.”
As for the debate surrounding plastics, Arnaud Revel believes, “it deserves a more nuanced approach. For several years, it has sometimes been reduced to a simple opposition between materials, whereas the real issue is their use and their overall impact across the entire product lifecycle. Not all plastics are created equal, just as not all alternatives automatically offer a better environmental footprint. The challenge, therefore, is to design the right packaging for the right use, taking into account its lifespan, recyclability, potential for reuse, and the consumer’s expected experience. It is precisely this approach that guides us. We have chosen to develop several complementary technologies so that we can offer the most relevant solution for each project, rather than promoting a single material.
Our mission is to support brands in this transition by balancing innovation, desirability, industrial performance, and regulatory requirements. Ultimately, we do not believe that the future of packaging lies in the elimination of any single material, but rather in a smarter, more responsible, and more circular use of each one.”
It should be noted that the French company manufactures all of its products at its plant in Challes, in the Sarthe department. “And all of our suppliers are carefully selected for their proximity and operational excellence. Furthermore, all of our standard products are eco-designed, and it should be noted that we have completed our Carbon Footprint Assessment (Scopes 1, 2, and 3).”
Innovation and Environmental Challenges
Over the past few months, the company has supported both niche brands and major international houses in launching new packaging for the fragrance, skincare, and home care sectors. “This diversity is part of our DNA,” explains Arnaud Revel. “We know how to tailor our support to each brand’s ambitions, whether it’s a confidential launch or a large-scale rollout.” Although confidentiality prevents us from naming these projects, they illustrate a significant shift in the industry: brands are seeking solutions that are increasingly premium, more distinctive, and incorporate environmental considerations from the very outset of the design process. Recent developments include technical components with high aesthetic value, the integration of recycled materials into certain challenging applications, and packaging designed to support the development of refillable products. We are also working on standard product developments by pooling our expertise and skills to offer solutions to our clients. For example, we have developed a 10-ml Vapo-sac in partnership with Silgan, which features a Bakelite body and a magnetic closure for a truly luxurious product, along with a refillable pump—also developed by Silgan—representing a genuine innovation in the fragrance industry. Similarly, we are currently developing a 75-ml, thick-walled, transparent RPET jar as a very luxurious solution in collaboration with Eastman and HRS.”
