AIMPLAS. INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO DEL PLÁSTICO

AIMPLAS, Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico (Plastics Technology Institute), is a non-profit research and technology centre based in the València Parc Tecnològic at Calle Gustave Eiffel 4, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain. Part of the Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencian Community (REDIT), AIMPLAS provides integrated solutions to companies across the plastics value chain, combining R&D&i projects, accredited analysis and testing, technical consultancy and specialised training. Its laboratories serve raw-material producers, compounders, converters, packaging manufacturers and end users who need independent, traceable data on the performance, safety and compliance of polymers, plastic parts, coatings and composites.

The institute operates one of the most comprehensive plastics testing laboratories in Spain and is the first Spanish centre to offer tests accredited to UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 by ENAC (the Spanish national accreditation body) specifically for the plastics industry. Its accredited scope is recognised internationally through ILAC mutual-recognition agreements, and AIMPLAS has additionally been accredited by the Mexican Accreditation Entity (ema) to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for biodegradation testing. The laboratories perform several thousand analyses and tests each year, covering characterization, durability, and health and safety of plastic materials and finished products.

Materials characterization services include the identification and analysis of plastics, additives, composites, recycled materials and waste, and coatings. Typical techniques cover thermal analysis (DSC, TGA), spectroscopy (FTIR), chromatography, rheology and mechanical testing (tensile, flexural, impact, fatigue and vibration). These analyses support failure investigation, raw-material verification, formulation development, quality control and the validation of recycled content for circular-economy applications.

A major strength is the testing of food-contact materials and articles. AIMPLAS carries out global (overall) migration and specific migration testing in line with EU food-contact regulations (Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004) and US FDA requirements, as well as compliance work against the European and US Pharmacopoeias (EP/USP) for plastics used in pharmaceutical and medical applications. The lab also analyses microplastics, conducts in vitro bioassays, and evaluates vehicle interior emissions (VOC/fogging) for the automotive sector.

Packaging clients rely on a dedicated suite of container and packaging tests. These include barrier and permeability measurement (oxygen and water-vapour transmission), leak and seal-integrity testing, chemical compatibility and chemical-resistance studies, dishwasher and microwave resistance, drop and transport-simulation tests, and verification of child-resistant closures. Such testing helps brand owners confirm that packaging protects its contents, withstands real-world use and meets regulatory and shelf-life expectations.

Durability and ageing testing rounds out the offering, with accelerated and natural weathering, UV and climate ageing, fire-reaction and fire-resistance testing, and chemical-resistance evaluation. These services allow manufacturers to predict product lifetime, demonstrate stability under thermal and environmental stress, and qualify materials for demanding outdoor, construction, automotive and industrial uses. AIMPLAS is also a reference centre for the assessment of biodegradable, compostable and bio-based plastics, performing aerobic biodegradation in composting conditions, biodegradation in soil and disintegration testing, supported by certification schemes such as DIN CERTCO, Blue Angel and RecyClass.

AIMPLAS serves a broad range of industries, including packaging, automotive, aerospace, agriculture, construction, medical and pharmaceutical, consumer goods and the environmental/recycling sector. Beyond routine testing, the institute develops applied research in sustainability, circular economy, advanced and recycled materials, and new processing technologies, giving testing customers access to deep polymer expertise.

With ENAC ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, internationally recognised results, specialised plastics instrumentation and decades of focused experience, AIMPLAS is a credible, independent testing partner for organisations that need rigorous, defensible data on plastic materials, packaging and food-contact safety. Quote requests can be directed to its Paterna laboratories by phone or through its contact channels.