The Plastic Technology Institute laboratories, AIMPLAS, have obtained the first national accreditation for testing to determine odour in plastic materials and other components used in the interior of vehicles. Tests were demanded by companies of the automotive industry, this is in fact the AIMPLAS's accreditation scope, covering various documents developed by major car manufacturers: Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen and Volvo.

According to reference standards, testing principally determines the spread of smell in the interior of vehicles (passenger and luggage compartments) of the materials that make up the inside of the vehicle (fabrics, vinyls, carpets, filling and insulation material, plastic parts, interior paintings, etc.), when they are subjected to specific temperature and humidity conditions. The objective is to determine if the smell sensation, a material used in the vehicle generates, is correct.

For example, according to FORD, customers expect a new vehicle to have a neutral or "new car" smell. This test is designed to establish whether the parts and materials used in a vehicle have an inappropriate or disturbing odour. To do so, the trial is performed by a panel of expert inspectors with an assessment scale of 1-6 to identify the smell from non-detectable to unbearable.

AIMPLAS, the Plastic Technology Institute, has more than 25 years experience providing solutions to companies from the plastics industry, from manufacturers of raw material to converters and end users.