On Friday, March 17, 2023, the 3Motion Academy, with the theme of interior design, took place. During this event, 3Motion launched its newest brand, Sono Panel. 

Sono Panel is a brand from 3Motion, and the product includes an acoustic felt panel ideal for indoor decorative applications.

The felt panel consists of 85% recycled PET fibers from plastic bottles, supplemented with new fibers to enhance the material properties, including fire retardancy. About 150 PET bottles can be transformed into a 122x244 cm felt panel. The panels are 100% recyclable and are highly durable in the long term (strong, water-resistant, odorless, and fire retardant).

The product is soundproof, prevents echo, and provides excellent speech privacy in spaces. Additionally, they can be easily used as creative decorative elements, making them perfect for interior applications.

The felt panels are easy to process, meaning they can fit in anywhere. We can cut the panels with straight lines or organic curves. Using a V-cut, we can also fold or bend the panels. Moreover, the panels can be printed with high-quality photos and graphic illustrations. Plenty of options to suit everyone’s needs!

The panels are typically available in 36 different colors. If you prefer a different color, it is available upon request.

The felt panels are most commonly used as wall or ceiling panels, but they can also be used as partition walls, desk dividers, and many other decorative items. Examples can be seen below.

A Masterpiece. This was the latest creation for a well-known French luxury handbag brand by 3Motion. The East Flanders-based company specializes in producing various forms of visual communication, primarily for business clients. The task was to build a life-sized replica of a historical building in Paris—20 meters by 20 meters and over 8 meters high—at the company's headquarters for an event.

The replica was mostly made of printed honeycomb cardboard rather than a full wooden structure. The client chose cardboard specifically for its sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and faster assembly time without the need for sawing or drilling. The cardboard had to meet the highest fire standards with a special coating. The massive puzzle, which filled four trailers, has since been dismantled and will be reused later this year. Afterward, the cardboard can be recycled.

Can-do Mentality

The project is characteristic of the 'can-do' mentality of 3Motion and its CEO, Femke Helon. She founded the company in 2010 together with her husband, Wouter Mouton. She had marketing studies and experience at Kipling, while he worked at a company in sports and promotional textiles that went bankrupt. The desire to become entrepreneurs started to grow. They purchased a large-format printer from the company.

In just 13 years, 3Motion has moved to its fourth location because the previous spaces became too small. The large, relatively new production hall in Zele now houses two robotic digital large-format printers, which can continuously print and cut large volumes with minimal supervision.

Market Leader

Helon strongly believes that they have even become the market leader in Belgium, with customers in France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Foreign revenue is significant and will increase. "We have competitors in each segment we are active in, but we handle every aspect in those segments, from concept to full installation on-site. Moreover, there is no competitor that operates in all these niches."

There are quite a few: from banners to window and vehicle signage, signage and light advertising to displays and packaging, interior design and shop fitting, as well as life-sized 3D figures and objects. "Any business is a potential client for us. Everyone needs some form of communication material, both for external and internal communication. We have also expanded into interior design, from signage to printed or unprinted walls made from acoustic material made from recycled PET bottles. For a DIY chain and a hotel chain, we cover existing furniture and kitchens with wood foils so they are budget-friendly, ecological, and quickly renewed."

Red Devils

For the acoustic walls, 3Motion launched the sub-brand Sono Panel. Jackprint is the name of the webshop where everyone can order, among other things, life-sized cardboard prints of family members or others. These family members became a hit during the pandemic, and even now, orders are still coming in almost daily. 3Motion also had a license for several years to print life-sized Red Devils (Belgium's national football team) under the MySportsHero brand.

Quick adaptation and flexibility are hallmarks of the company. Helon attributes the rapid growth of 3Motion—where revenue grows annually by 15 to 20 percent—to continuous innovation, sustainability efforts such as the cardboard department, a roof full of solar panels, eco-friendly inks, and a creative, customer-oriented approach. "Even before there's a demand, we proactively inform and inspire our clients."

Acquisitions

A major four-year contract, details of which Helon cannot yet share, is expected to help boost revenue to about 15 million euros by 2025. "We also have several projects in the pipeline." New acquisitions could lead to additional volume. "We are on the lookout, but there must be a good match. It has to be a win-win story. A few years ago, we took a stake in the installation company Model Deco, which is French-speaking and based in Brussels. Recently, we fully acquired it."

The 3Motion showroom in Zele is filled with examples of what's possible, from a cardboard plant to a large display for Harry Potter merchandise. It’s filled with well-known names like Coca-Cola, Proximus, BMW, and BNP Paribas Fortis. Bobbejaanland, Plopsaland, Center Parcs, Colruyt, and Lidl are also among the hundreds of clients. For De Lijn, 3Motion printed a life-sized bus made of cardboard.

The strong growth of the still-young 3Motion has earned the company and Helon several awards. The latest is a nomination for the Vlerick Venture Award 2023. Helon was also named Female Entrepreneur of the Year (Womed Award) in 2020, and Trends nominated 3Motion twice for the Trends Gazelles. Helon is also the president of the professional association Fespa Belgium.