At first glance, it is a classic plate, similar to those found on the tables in the canteen. But when you turn it over, you discover that it has an elastomer reinforcement, so that when you put it down, the sound is considerably muffled. Goodbye to the resounding clashes that cause persistent headaches. This plate is developed for collective catering by Quiet, a start-up based in Talence (Gironde) near Bordeaux. The company intends to make a name for itself by participating in the CES in Las Vegas from January 9 to 12, 2024within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional delegation.
The idea of a silent plate was born five years ago in the mind of one of the three co-founders of Quiet, from the observation that the noise produced by the dishes in the washing rooms and the canteens was particularly unpleasant for employees and users. “The idea of combining elastomer and tempered glass came about quite quickly and then the INSA and CNRS laboratories in Lyon validated the theoretical feasibility,” says Sophie Moritel, one of the co-founders. Two more years followed, focusing on technical manufacturing issues, with private partners. For the elastomer, an elastic material of mineral origin, Quiet has chosen to align itself with the same level of requirements as baby bottle teats.
More expensive but also more solid tableware
Currently, the company is in the final stages of research and has already launched experiments with several collective structures. Since June 2023, it has equipped three school canteens in Talence, since September a gendarmerie home in Mont-de-Marsan (Landes), and more recently a Bordeaux nursing home. Quiet offers to test its tableware (small, large plates and bowls) for a month and to carry out a study on the sound environment to measure the gain provided by its products. The start-up also prides itself on improving the working conditions of community agents while noise is one of the main occupational risk factors. “If the dishwashing doesn’t work, the whole canteen stops,” emphasizes Sophie Moritel.
When a tempered glass plate alone sells for 1.30 euros and 3.60 euros for its porcelain counterpart (60% of the market), Quiet tableware is 6 euros per piece. “But it has the advantage of being three times stronger,” Sophie Moritel immediately points out. It is non-slip which reduces the risk of falling and when this is the case, it does not necessarily break. » A quality that is attractive when you know that 20% of a canteen’s tableware fleet is replaced each year, due to breakage. She is also working on a project to recycle her broken dishes, even though the sector for these products, although recoverable, does not exist.
The company hopes to raise three million euros by September 2024, in order to internally industrialize its production at the end of 2025 and support its commercial launch. It is currently able to offer pre-orders and experiments.
Its participation at CES as part of the French Tech delegation should help it make its product known. And if all goes well, the marketing of its silent tableware should be in full swing during 2026.