Heart of Hérault: when orthopedic furniture also adapts to able-bodied people

A custom-made piece in the Cos ortho workshop, in Ldoève. JM – JM

After fitting, Thomas Flageollet refines the shape of the foam by hand. JM – JM

Thomas Flageollet scanner une forme. Le fichier sera transmis au fabricant de housses sur mesure. JM – JM

Thomas Flageollet and Sophie Remot intend to transpose orthopedic furniture, tailor-made, to able-bodied people. Their start-up is supported by Novel ID, in Saint-André-de-Sangonis.

For homo electronicus, back pain is often described as the evil of the century. Bad posture in front of the computer, staring, head down, on the cell phone, lack of sport, sedentary lifestyle… The possible causes of this pain are legion. And their solution also often involves better posture at work and optimized ergonomics. It is on this track that Thomas Flageollet and Sophie Remot intend to develop their young company, Cos Ortho, by proposing to transpose the manufacture of orthopedic devices, and in particular often tailor-made seats and armchairs. for the attention of people suffering from disabilities, towards able-bodied people.

From an intuition to its realization

Until now, "the goal is to improve the quality of life of patients", summarizes Thomas Flageollet, self-employed orthoprosthetist for four years, in Lodève*. A young business leader who has, for a long time, had the intuition that his core business could evolve in the direction of ordinary mortals because "90% of the population experiences back pain". And what could have remained just a great idea has today become a real project supported by Novel Id, the start-up incubator incubated by Sydel in Saint-André-de- Sangonis.

The world of work… and play

So, whoever introduces himself, smiling like a "moss sculptor", intends to open up perspectives new to its activity and therefore also improve the daily lives of able-bodied people with high-end equipment."The basic idea is to start with the office chair, to make a product adapted to people who sit 10 hours a day at their desks, to people who work from home.. But we are also thinking of working on gaming chairs. People who play video games often spend many hours playing them…"

“A great opportunity to really launch this idea”

Novel Id The project could have remained confined Ad vitam aeternam to the theoretical state but the opportunity to integrate Novel ID "gave us a great opportunity. This is the opportunity to really launch this idea and see it through to the end", appreciates Thomas Flageollet. A young entrepreneur who appreciates "the support" offered by Sydel, "the network", the advice… For the moment, the project is backed by the name of the company Cos Ortho (from Cos, the corp in Occitan), but the carriers projects could find a tailor-made name for this new activity.

In his workshop, Thomas Flageollet uses the milling machine to give the perfect modeling to the custom-made foams which constitute the framework of the seats or backs made in Lodève. On the covering side, Cos ortho works with Orthopedix, a Stéphanoise company specializing in the manufacture of custom covers. Thomas Flageollet scans the shape to be covered and transmits the file to his partner who sends him back the piece of fabric perfectly adapted to the shape.