AIMPLAS: Description and role

Asociación de Investigación de Materiales Plásticos y Conexas (AIMPLAS) is a plastic Technology Centre located in Valencia, is a private, non- profit Association with more than 600 associated companies created in 1990.

AIMPLAS is formed by +200 highly skilled professional, more than 65% with a Masters, Engineering or equivalent degree in Chemistry, polymer engineering, materials engineering or equivalent, including moren than 20 PhD. AIMPLAS’ fields of work are related to technological research and development on thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials & products, its transformation processes and their recyclability and sustainability. AIMPLAS generates new knowledge and technologies that can be transferred to companies in order to help them to increase their effectiveness and competitiveness. AIMPLAS has a broad expertise in the fields of recycling, compatibilization, reactive extrusion, biopolymers and renewable source materials, special assisted processing technologies and nanocomposites, gained during the last years in the frame of EU and national projects. Nowadays, AIMPLAS is involved in more than 27 European projects and has participated in 79 projects in FP5, FP6, FP7, LIFE+, CIP-Eco Innovation EU Programmes, among others, coordinating 27 of them. At National and Regional levels AIMPLAS participates in around 100 projects yearly.

AIMPLAS develops tailored R&D projects to meet the needs of companies in the packaging and food sector. Some of the investigation lines which stand out in packaging sector are:

• Development of biodegradable and bio-based
• Improved properties: antimicrobial, barrier properties, functional barriers…
• Processing of biodegradable materials: extrusion, foaming, injection
• Active packaging