José Trijuenque Monge - Director of AIMPLAS

These 5 years since its establishment, have not only served to reach surpass the hundred of companies currently associated, but also to consolidate the initial objectives: development and research in European programmes, technical advisory services to associated companies, achievement of a diagnosis of quality, constant training, analysis and laboratory testing following the stricter requirements of accreditation by relay (today ENAC), facilitate access to all practitioners to quality information that would be a support to the competitiveness of their enterprises, technical assistance, qualified partners. In short, has sought to cover all the needs of a modern industry may be required to a centre such as ours.

Translate these objectives into services has not been an easy task, and it has demanded the structuring of the Institute in different units each of them dedicated to a well differentiated task. Ultimately it is to respond to the industrial demand through services as competitive as possible.

Thus, from the unit of quality is offers companies a long-term partnership that covers the stages of planning, implementation and follow-up of the implementation of a system of quality according to standards ISO-9000, carrying out of audits, consultancy, trainingetc. are usual services of this unit.

Technological advances in the industry make retraining a pressing need in certain professionals. Respond with any training, this need is the main objective of the training unit. Here are organized courses, workshops, demonstration sessions, tailored courses, scholarships for specialization, etc.

The information is undoubtedly one of the pillars of a competitive company. Aimplas conocededor of this fact has developed a documentation centre with the latest technologies to the world of information we offer digitized documents from access databases online for members, exclusive up-to-date information (DSI) servicesgreat range of databases on optical media, on-line access to international databases, specialized in plastics library, large retailers newspaper with more than 100 journals in open subscription, etc. and all this to meet the information needs of the industry.

For its part, the laboratory Unit distributes its activity in three areas: carrying out of tests, assignments of technical advice, research and development. Its laboratories have been accredited by relay for trials relating to plastic materials, films and sheets of plastic from general use and packaging, as well as DHC, vicat and fluídez index.

The process unit supports the development of enterprises, both as regards the optimisation of processes and reduction of costs, and in the development of designs. Aimplas has for this pilot plant extrusion allowing small-scale simulation of real processes.

Since 1994 Aimplas has a unit devoted exclusively to advice on issues relating to packaging and plastic packaging. By his youth this year their tasks have focused on the acquisition of equipment and implementation on the verge of the same. However if they have checked very clear the objectives of this unit, namely: achieved through general essays, advice on transformation processes, design, etc. the achievement of the best qualities and with maximum cost reduction product.

All this effort is reflected in the following figures: more than 3,000 requests in these 5 years, more than 500 students trained in our classrooms with great success for inclusion in the labour market, with more than 8,000 tests carried out, spectacular growth of associated companies, etc. that support the work done so far.

Despite the positive side of these figures, we will consider the future as a permanent challenge taking advantage of our excellent infrastructure that we have managed to build over the years. That is why we are determined to improve existing services, bring new services based on industrial demand taking advantage of new technologies, as a basis for expanding our scope of action both geographical and sectoral. In this line, Aimplas has pledged its participation in European programmes such as IMPACT where we will develop a multimedia training tool on CD-ROM for the subsector of the injection. In this field the connections online-other databases as well as facilitate access to the Internet are going to be a priority for the unit of documentation and information. In short, it's introducing the professional in the new information technologies.

The growing concern for the environment in enterprises has demanded a clear response by Aimplas with the creation, within the quality unit, of a Department of environmental management responsible for the implementation of waste management, ecoauditing, control spills, water, etc.

Labour specialization requires a greater exclusivity in the formation of the professional. Aimplas is seriously committed to further develop the so-called "customized courses". I.e. to respond with a specific course at a problem or need for training.

To finish, stress the permanent technological innovation pursued by Aimplas that ensures an optimal package of services towards its partners.