Plastics research institute with a pilot plant for injection molding, testing, surface technology and recyclate qualification
Kunststoff-Institut für die mittelständische Wirtschaft NRW GmbH (K.I.M.W.)
Lüdenscheid · Schwerte · Villingen-Schwenningen · BerlinNew on Amplifa
About the Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid
The Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid (KIMW) was founded in 1988 by entrepreneurs from South Westphalia and supports companies along the entire value chain of plastics processing. In its in-house pilot plant in Lüdenscheid, injection-molded parts made of thermoplastics and thermosets are sampled; nine injection molding machines up to 240 t clamping force, a thermoset press and an elastomer machine are available. Processes include multi-component injection molding, foam injection molding, gas injection, film back-molding and injection compression molding. In the Application Center for Surface Technology, painting, PVD coating, in-mould coating, pretreatment and printing are carried out. As an accredited testing laboratory (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, since 2000) and accredited proficiency testing provider (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043), the institute performs material, component and surface testing as well as failure analyses, qualifies recyclates according to DIN SPEC 91446 and calculates Product Carbon Footprints. Customers come from the automotive, electrical, construction, packaging, optics, medical technology and hydrogen technology sectors. The institute maintains a network of over 400 partners and has been the VDWF branch office North-West since 2018.
- Site
- Lüdenscheid
- Processes
- Injection molding (thermoplastics and thermosets, sampling & test specimens), Multi-component injection molding, Thermoplastic foam injection molding / foaming technologies, Gas injection, Back-molding and over-molding of inserts and films (film back-molding), Injection compression molding, Transfer molding of thermosets, Elastomer processing
- Materials
- Thermoplastics, Thermosets, Elastomers, ABS (regrind/PCF study), PA66GF30, PC (polycarbonate), POM, Biopolymers / bio-based materials
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043, Gold Label Cluster Management Excellence, Ökoprofit, DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 (testing laboratory), DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043 (proficiency testing), OEM approvals (Mercedes, VW, BMW)
- Founded
- 1988
- Employees
- 85
- Industries
- Automotive, Electrical, Construction, Packaging, Optics, Medical technology
- 01
Material selection and development
- 02
Injection molding simulation (CAE)
- 03
Pilot plant: injection molding/sampling
- 04
Surface technology
- 05
Testing & failure analysis
- 06
Recyclate qualification & PCF accounting
- 07
Training and further education
Materials & Processes
Thermoplastics
Processed in the pilot plant, including injection molding, foam molding and gas injection.
Thermosets
Processed in an in-house thermoset press; competence center for thermoset processing.
Elastomers
Processed on an in-house elastomer machine.
Polycarbonate (PC)
PCF studies and tests for optical applications.
PA66GF30
Glass-fiber-reinforced material from PCF product portfolio studies.
ABS
Investigated in regrind and PCF studies on the carbon footprint of injection-molded products.
POM
Part of the PCF product portfolio studies.
Biopolymers & Natural Fibers
Development and validation of bio-based materials and renewable raw materials.
Recyclates
Qualification and analysis according to DIN SPEC 91446 and EN 15342 ff.
Shape Memory Polymers
Development of functional specialty materials in the field of material development.
Locations
Lüdenscheid
DEMain site: research, testing, further training
- Lot size
- Prototype to small series (pilot plant)
- Materials
- Thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers
- 9 injection molding machines up to 240 t clamping force (screws 15–45 mm)
- Thermoset press
- Elastomer machine
- Application Center Surface Technology
- over 200 test facilities
Schwerte
DEMaterials Forum of the Future – sustainable material use, circular economy
- Materials
- Recyclates, engineering plastics
Villingen-Schwenningen
DEKunststoff-Institut Südwest: training and further education
Berlin
DEHELIX HUB site
Services & Parts
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection molding (thermoplastics and thermosets, sampling & test specimens)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics, Thermosets |
| Multi-component injection moldingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics, Thermosets, Elastomers |
| Thermoplastic foam injection molding / foaming technologiesPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics |
| Gas injectionPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics |
| Back-molding and over-molding of inserts and films (film back-molding)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics, Thermoplastic elastomers |
| Injection compression moldingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermosets, Thermoplastics |
| Transfer molding of thermosetsPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermosets |
| Elastomer processingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Elastomers |
| In-Mould Coating (IMC) – painting within the injection molding process with polyurethane/polyureaSurface | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics, Polyurethane, Polyurea |
| Painting (layer structures, primer, hybrid processes)Surface | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| PVD coatingSurface | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Pretreatment (plasma, flame treatment, corona)Surface | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Printing & marking (digital printing, pad printing, screen printing, laser marking, hot embossing)Surface | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Thermoforming and film back-molding with individual printingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics |
| Material & failure analysis of plasticsTesting | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics, Thermosets, Elastomers, Coatings |
| Materials and component testing (mechanical, surface, emissions, lightfastness, flammabilityTesting | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics, Thermosets, Elastomers, Coatings |
| Recyclate qualification and analysis (DIN SPEC 91446, EN 15342 ff.)Testing | – | – | – | – | Recyclates, Plastics |
| Proficiency tests/suitability tests and reference materials for plastics testingTesting | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Injection molding simulation (CAE: rheology, thermics, shrinkage/warpage)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics, Thermosets |
| Compounding technology / material development (functional materials, biopolymers)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Plastics, Biopolymers, Natural fibers, Recyclates |
| 3D printing (additive manufacturing, filament and material development)Additive | – | – | – | – | Filaments for 3D printing |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection molding machines | – | 9 | Clamping force range up to 240 t; screw diameter mostly 15–45 mm | – | Lüdenscheid |
| Thermoset press | – | – | – | – | Lüdenscheid |
| Elastomer machine | – | – | – | – | Lüdenscheid |
| Systems for surface and decoration processes (Application Center Surface Technology) | – | – | – | – | Lüdenscheid |
| Test facilities for material, component and surface testing | – | over 200 | – | – | Lüdenscheid |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Accreditations
The laboratories are accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, approved by various automotive manufacturers and confirmed by OEM approvals (Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW); proficiency tests are conducted according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043.
| Evidence | Lüdenscheid |
|---|---|
| DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 (testing laboratory) | |
| DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043 (proficiency testing) | |
| ISO 9001 | |
| Ökoprofit | |
| OEM approvals (Mercedes, VW, BMW) |
History
- 1988
Founded by entrepreneurs from the South Westphalia region; engaged in recycling since its founding
- 2000
Accredited testing laboratory according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025
- 2005
Cluster admitted to “Kompetenznetze Deutschland” (today go-cluster)
- 2013
Received Gold Label for Cluster Management Excellence
- 2014
Accreditation according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043 (proficiency testing)
- 2018
VDWF branch office North-West
- 2021
Gold Label confirmed
- 2024
Proficiency tests in cooperation with QD Labs
- 2025
Gold Label confirmed again