Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks
Origami transport bag
FalbaTech's Origami bag is an environmentally friendly way to transport your split keyboards.
Published June 29, 2023
FalbaTech has had these origami transport bags, made of eco-friendly recycled felt, on offer for months, but they made some fresh updates to the design today.
Jan, as you can tell from the recent interview with him on the occasion of FalbaTech turning nine, seems to be very keen on sparking a positive environmental change in the field of the keyboard hobby. Beside the hallmark wooden cases and cork deskmat, a unique carry bag caught my eye browsing his online shop.
The origami transport bag is crafted from a single piece of 5mm felt, employing the principles of origami. With a simple fold and the connection of snaps (just updated with magnets today!), a protective cover is formed, safeguarding your keyboard against drops and bumps. When not in use, you can unfold the cover and tuck it away.
How did you come up with this idea? Was there a specific lightbulb moment?
The idea came to life on a regular evening while my wife and I were busy with a rather unusual task. Being a math teacher, my wife needed to create geometric shapes for her students to help explain the concepts of geometric solids. Using nothing more than scissors and paper, we ended up designing what would eventually become the prototype for our origami bag. It's fascinating how mathematics, often revered as the queen of sciences, can subtly inspire us in our daily lives.
Are you into origami by the way?
I once took an origami course in my college days. But nothing else. :)
What exactly was recycled to get this material? Is the felt made out of recycled clothing? Or plastic bottles?
The felt we use holds a narrative of sustainability. It's crafted from recycled polyester fibers, each woven from a diverse array of items. While the exact elements used in its production remain a mystery to me, I find it fascinating how we can breathe new life into discarded materials, making our creations not only aesthetically pleasing, but also environmentally friendly.
And what about the snaps? Can you point me to any resources to confirm it's indeed used by the Polish Air Force or is this largely anecdotal? :)
The manufacturer of the latches has this written in the product description: "The snaps are used on: Kevlar cinderblocks from around the world and the Polish Air Force's MIG-29 aircraft."
As for slightly more mundane applications, customers use these snaps for leather jackets, winter jackets, baby carriages, blouses, pistol holsters, etc.
How long did it take to create a prototype and bring it to the market? Do you have any insight into the manufacturing process?
It lasted for several days. I have a laser on hand so the project was done and testing began. I nailed the first fasteners with a hammer, but it's a time-consuming job so we bought a press. Now the pattern remains the same, and compatibility is growing. We can adapt the bag to any keyboard on the market within five days. The dimensions of the product are enough for us.
Any plans for the future?
Yes, this bag has been available since January 5. But today, we've made a small update. We've added magnetic fasteners, replacing the usual opening flap for more ease of use. Plus, we're nearly finished with a new addition: a shoulder strap. From now on, every case you order will have magnetic snaps. We are just updating the product page in the shop.
Availability
The origami transport bags are in stock at falba.tech:
- https://falba.tech/product/origami-transport-bag-for-split-keyboards/
- Feel free to use the KBDNEWS coupon code for a discount!
Published on Thu 29th Jun 2023. Featured in KBD #126.
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