Enrique del Castillo - Secretary AVEP - Valencian companies have a technological level
Enrique del Castillo
general Secretary of AVEV
The Valencian Community is of great importance in the Spanish sector of plastics, especially with regard to the processing and recycling industry. The industries of the Valencian Community are very active and, as says Enrique del Castillo, Secretary general of the Valencian plastics Association (AVEP), which represents, are well positioned for the foreseeable future. However, it also recognizes that there are problems on the horizon, as well as numerous challenges. One is training, attempting to alleviate with the Organization of numerous courses of vocational training and continuous. Another is the image of the society of the plastics which, despite its advantages, not just be favourable.
It is more than thirty years at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, in the Department of mechanization Agraria of the school technique Superior of engineers agronomists, having taught in this school and the College of agricultural engineering technique, in the subjects of morores and agricultural machinery.
Professional concern led him in the 1970s to be partner professional a consultancy for industrial projects and subsequently a society for the import and distribution in Spain of food products.
At what level is the Valencian Community as to the recovery or recycling of plastics?
In Spain there are 108 foremost companies of plastics that recover 242,000 tonnes per year. In this sector, the Valencian Community is a prominent second, with 24 type companies and 50,200 T/yr capacity, which means 20.7 per cent of the total capacity of recycling of Spain.
The problems faced by these companies for recycling are not or technology or capacity prodcutiva, since they could recycle many more tons of plastics. The fundamental problem is that of the previous selection of plastics and the subsequent sale of recovered materials. Problems are, in part, outside the industry.
What importance do plastics in Valencia?
It is estimated that there are a total of 3,500 companies in the sector of plastics which employ about 75,000 workers in Spain.? About 70% of these industries are located between the Valencian Community, the community of Madrid and Catalonia.
Valencia has a prominent place, in the Valencian Community has 13.8% of the processing industry of Spain and the Alicante 6.7 per cent. In the Valencian Community are registered more than 500 companies dedicated to plastics and you are employed 8,500 workers, which are important figures.
It is estimated that the sector of the plastics in Valencia invoiced last year about 150,000 MPtas and 50,000 MPtas more than three years.This means that the Valencian plastics sector represents 10% of the total Spanish and with a strong dynamics.
Valencian plastics industry is a strong contribution to the economy of this community, since it represents 20% of the whole of consumption, production and processing of plastics in the country. The Valencian people produced more than they consume, which has meant that the sector of plastics is a powerful source of revenue for the Valencian economy. Specifically, the consumption of plastics last year amounted to a total of 263.000 T of material, while production was 490,000 T.
Would it make a synthesis of the business association that represents?
The Valencian Association of entrepreneurs of plastics (AVEP) was formed in 1997. It currently has 180 companies associated in the province of Valencia.
Our Association holds the representation of the interests of our partners to individuals and public and private entities. We have agreements with the State and the autonomous administration and we are the managers of the Provincial Convention for plastics processing industries. We are members of the CEV and Cepymev and collaborate with all agencies and Valencian institutions for the sole and exclusive purpose of defending the interests of our partners at all levels.
Labor, tax and business advisory services are well covered. We regularly provide information or processing on specific topics relating to the Chamber of Commerce, the ICEX, Impiva, and so on. We organize visits to technology fairs abroad, conferences and symposia on specific issues of particular interest to entrepreneurs nuestrois and try to keep them fully informed through our newsletter and through circulars.In short, we try to supply the service in each case demand us our businesses and evacuate it as effectively as possible the many consultations we receive on a daily basis.
They carry out any activity on the issue of staff training?
AVEP is aware that training is an activity of vital importance to the implementation to date and maintenance of the appropriate levels within the business sector and training centre has been organized within the programme of vocational training, for unemployed, four courses during the year 1996.
Training courses continuously, for workers, that they were offered during the period from October 1995 to March 1996 and that they were financed by the Forcem amounted to 43 and a total of 645 students of the companies in our sector. In the present year 1997 we are developing another new plan of continuous training which will be completed in the month of June.
What is the structure of the sector of plastics within the Valencian Community?
Within the sector there are a wide variety of industries: injection, blow molding, extrusion, and so on. And, therefore, products, so it not you can generalize all industries are not affected to the same extent.
The technological level, however, is generally quite high, on which, with some exceptions, I think that they can adapt to the new requirements and needs of the market.
The Valencian plastics industry could experience an annual growth between now and the year 2000, from 5 to 6% a year in story production and consumption.
How is the subject of the environment from the Valecniana community in which to plastics are concerned?
The environmental factor has experienced a spectacular boom in the last decade. Specifically, Spain environmental legislation has evolved quickly towards more restrictive and more demanding parameters.
This trend seems more reasonable. We must take care of our environment and prevent its deterioration. Well, I believe that plastics have been especially assaulted and this may be due to the widespread ignorance of the place in our life and the benefits us. If we ask the question why plastics are both used?, the answer is clear: because they are durable, versatile, weigh little and save energy.
Its own success has generated a waste problem. The fact that plastics are so durable and generally chemically inert means that often constitute a visual pollution, once used and lying. Jump to the view in the field, in the square, next to the road... However, in landfills plastics occupy 20% of space, while only 7% of the weight, because they are relatively light. But, as they are easily compactables, its volume decreases in the long term.
Even if we are adequately sensitized on the need for the Elimination of these residues and in this we are, we must bear in mind that each Spanish uses an average of 67 kg of plastic per year, half and those who consume the Germansusing 122 kg per year, implying that the problems and, consequently, the solutions that they provide can be valid for us. Although, ultimately, pollution is basically a problem of citizen education.
Do you want to add something more?
-Then only occurs to me to appeal to employers that still does not belong to their associations territorial so incorporated in them. Associations are which can best represent companies and no doubt are the best forum for debate, as are persons who will have the same problems and professional concerns. Indepedientemente that associations will provide them services that has already been mentioned earlier.
