Aimplas, the Plastics Technology Centre, Valencia, Spain, is set to participate in the K 2019 fair in D??sseldorf, Germany, with an innovative display in which virtual reality will play a major role. Through a tool that offers visitors a totally immersive experience, the technology centre will present the different applications of its research results.

• The house consists of several rooms, where new products are presented (© Aimplas)

• The car features electromagnetic shielding systems, recycled materials with electrical conductivity (© Aimplas)

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• The house consists of several rooms, where new products are presented (© Aimplas)

• The car features electromagnetic shielding systems, recycled materials with electrical conductivity (© Aimplas)

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Commercial - the next slide will be displayed in seconds - skip

Commercial - the next slide will be displayed in seconds - skip

It has created three different scenarios: a house, a car and a hospital. The novelties presented include an anti-icing coating to increase aircraft safety when looking at the sky; biodegradable or root-resistant pipes to extend the useful life of irrigations systems; new, more efficient pine processionary caterpillar traps with lower assembly costs; a composter made from marine waste; powder paints with insect-repellent properties for a range of surfaces; biodegradable twine and stakes for crops; and garden furniture manufactured from wood-plastic composites.

In the roof of the house, a solar panel follows the sun and presents greater efficiency than conventional panels. The garage features an electric-vehicle charging point made from biocomposites.

A House with Several Rooms

The house consists of several rooms, where visitors can observe innovative products. The kitchen, for example, contains containers that extend the shelf life of foods by more than 15% and that, when heated in the microwave, distribute the temperature evenly; biodegradable nets for citrus fruits, potatoes, onions and shellfish; food packaging manufactured from recycled material; household appliances with scratch-resistant and flame-retardant properties; and an antibacterial worktop.

The innovations featured in the bathroom include biodegradable packaging for cosmetics and toiletries, lighter surfaces made of solid surface with improved properties; and non-slip vinyl flooring.

In the bedroom, there are internal panels manufactured from biocomposites to help improve the air quality; anti-snoring medical devices; and eco-friendly coat hangers manufactured using an innovative gas process. There is also an electrically conductive, touch-sensitive lamp that lights up the room and, under the floor, a comfortable, energy-efficient heating system that acts as an air conditioner. The same area features sustainable flame-retardant materials and a mattress made of recycled materials obtained from innovative urban bulky waste collection and recovery systems and textiles manufactured from plastics from the sea.

The Car

A vehicle is parked in front of the house, next to urban furniture made of recycled rubber and on a low-maintenance asphalt surface made of recovered waste. This futuristic car features electromagnetic shielding systems, recycled materials with electrical conductivity, heating panels that save up to 30% compared to conventional panels, self-cleaning and scratch-resistant surfaces, materials made from renewable sources such as upholstery fabrics, and eco-friendly, flame-retardant materials. It even has touch-sensitive sensor fabric in place of traditional button panels.

The Hospital

In the hospital, RFID-technology bracelets are used to locate patients more easily and antimicrobial surfaces prevent the spread of diseases. Once inside the operating theatre, visitors can observe innovations developed by Aimplas to make operations more effective through, for example, improved 3D printed surgical tools for use with the Da Vinci Robot in ovarian and prostate surgery and a low-cost videolaryngoscope with improved vision with respect to conventional devices. Electromagnetic shielding materials prevent interference in equipment and 3D-printing can be used to produce life-sized patient organs to plan surgical interventions and manufacture patches for controlled drug delivery.

Other developments presented include innovative, smart markers for radiotherapy in prostate cancer and smart biomaterials that regenerate maxillofacial tissue and reduce the need for surgical procedures. The hospital pharmacy features plastic packaging for eye drops to help cut down on the number of preparations required.

These projects offer solutions to the challenges facing society, including issues relating to the circular economy and climate change, sustainable mobility and agriculture, and food safety.

At the fair, the technology centre will present the extensive range of technological services it has developed in its ENAC-accredited test laboratories. According to Aimplas, the laboratories have earned the most accreditations for plastics in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

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