Development, prototyping and testing of hardware products with miniaturized actuators – based in Cologne
kowuma GbR
Cologne (Betzdorferstr. 2)New on Amplifa
About kowuma
kowuma GbR is a hardware startup founded in Cologne in 2024 and a spin-off of TH Köln. The company develops its own products and, as a service offering, provides product development, prototyping as well as testing and validation: from conceptualization through 3D models and assemblies to individual part drawings, bills of materials, assembly and documented testing. For functional prototypes and demonstration models, kowuma uses 3D printing in FDM, SLS and SLA processes and advises on materials and manufacturing methods. Its first in-house product is nowori case, an active smartphone protective case that detects a fall and deploys additional protective elements within fractions of a second; the launch is planned for Q3 2027. The technical basis is a miniaturized actuator module, which is also intended for use in applications in further products and industries. The project was funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and is supported by TH Köln, RWTH Aachen, the Startup Service of TH Köln, RBW GmbH and BLER.BAU GmbH.
- Site
- Cologne
- Processes
- Product development (conceptualization, engineering, 3D models & assemblies, individual part, 3D printing (FDM, SLS, SLA) – functional prototypes & demonstration models, prototyping, Testing & validation (test planning, execution, evaluation, documentation), Assembly & technical implementation, Product development (conceptualization and engineering, 3D models, assemblies, individual part, Prototyping (3D printing FDM/SLS/SLA, functional prototypes, material and manufacturing consulting), Miniaturized actuator modules, Active smartphone protective case (nowori case, in development)
- Materials
- 3D printing FDM, 3D printing SLS, 3D printing SLA, Product development
- Founded
- 2024
- Industries
- Consumer Electronics, Hardware product development, further industries for miniaturized actuators (open to suggestions)
- 01
Initial consultation
- 02
Concept & quotation
- 03
Product development (conceptualization, engineering, 3D models)
- 04
Prototyping (3D printing)
- 05
Testing & validation
- 06
Assembly & handover with documentation
Processes & Technologies
3D printing FDM
Functional prototypes and demonstration models with short iteration cycles.
3D printing SLS
Laser sintering for durable plastic prototypes.
3D printing SLA
High-resolution samples with fine surface details.
Product development
Conceptualization, engineering, 3D models, individual part drawings and bills of materials.
Location
Cologne
DEDevelopment and manufacturing
- Materials
- Plastic (3D printing FDM/SLS/SLA)
- 3D printing (FDM, SLS, SLA)
- Metrology & process engineering
Products & Assemblies
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product development (conceptualization, engineering, 3D models & assemblies, individual partEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3D printing (FDM, SLS, SLA) – functional prototypes & demonstration models, prototypingAdditive | – | – | – | – | – |
| Testing & validation (test planning, execution, evaluation, documentation)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly & technical implementationAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Development
- 2024
Founded as a startup following a master's project at TH Köln (founders since June 2024).
Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia; supported by TH Köln, RWTH Aachen, Startup Service TH Köln, RBW GmbH, BLER.BAU GmbH and BMU.
- 2027
Planned launch of the nowori case in Q3 2027; current status: optimization & production preparation.