Industrial Design 2025

Hermetica

A redesign of Hermetica, the IMA machine that seals filled capsules with a band of gelatine. A university project developed with IMA, built around the operator: the light, the controls, the access.

01 // THE PROBLEM

Where the operator struggles

We started from the machine as it is: where the operator stands, looks and reaches. Studied with a figure at each station, five points slowed the routine down or strained the body.

Top view of the original machine, with operator figures at each station

The routine, from above

Where the operator works around the machine during a shift.

Ergonomic study: an operator figure reaching the original control panel

The control arm

The panel sits on an arm in front of the inspection zone: it blocks the view and forces awkward postures.

Inspection

Under flat light from above, small defects on the capsules are hard to see.

Ergonomic study: an operator figure moving the gelatine tank cart

The tank

The gelatine tank is a separate unit, awkward to refill and to service.

Ergonomic study: reaching the transport chains in the drying section

Getting inside

Reaching the capsule transport chains means handling a heavy door.

Ergonomic study: an operator figure turning the adjustment knobs

Adjustments

The knobs that set the inspection cover are hard to grip and slow down every change.

02 // THE LIGHT

A shadow for every defect

Light from above flattens the surface of a capsule. A low, grazing light makes every dent and bump cast a shadow, so the defect stands out. We ran a green grazing light across the inspection deck and tested it on real capsules with defects.

Two rows of capsules under light from above

The same capsules under a green grazing light

After: Grazing light

Before: Light from above

On low-angle lighting in defect inspection: Chen et al., PLOS ONE 19(5), 2024.

03 // VOLUMES

One proportion

We rebuilt the outer shell on the golden ratio. The main volumes, the doors and the panels follow the same proportion, so the machine reads as one object instead of a set of boxes.

Side view of Hermetica with a golden ratio grid over its volumes

04 // ACCESS

Doors and handles

The old doors were heavy and slowed down daily maintenance. We redrew the way the access panels open.

Hermetica with its doors open — The access panels, open.

Close-up of the handles set into the covers

Handles in the covers

The handles are set into the covers: a firm grip, and nothing sticking out in a room that has to stay clean.

05 // THE INTERFACE

The panel in the frame

On the original machine the controls stand on an arm, in the way of the inspection zone. We set a large touchscreen flush into the sheet metal, beside the inspection cover: nothing sticks out, and the operator adjusts the process without looking away from the capsules.

Hermetica from the front corner, with the touch panel set into its side

Close-up of the touch panel set flush into the frame

Flush in the steel

The touch panel beside the inspection area, lit green

Next to the inspection

06 // THE TANK

The gelatine tank

The tank was a separate unit that needed tools to refill and service. The new one has a rounded shape that sets it apart from the rest of the machine, and a quick-release docking that we designed and modelled: it locks and releases by hand.