INDUSTRIAS MECANICAS ALCUDIA SL

Their core work

IMECAL is a Spanish SME specializing in mechanical engineering and industrial equipment for waste-to-value biorefinery processes. They design and operate semi-industrial scale systems that convert municipal solid waste (MSW) and urban biowaste into biochemicals, biofuels, and bioplastics. Their core contribution is building and demonstrating the physical infrastructure — reactors, separation units, processing lines — that turn waste streams into marketable bio-based products like bioethanol, bioethylene, and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IMECAL's early work (2017) centered on broad municipal solid waste biorefinery — converting MSW into a wide range of outputs including bioethanol, bioethylene, biomethane, VFAs, medium-chain fatty acids, PHA, and biofertiliser. By 2019, their focus narrowed toward urban biowaste specifically, with the WaysTUP! project targeting biowaste utilisation within city contexts. This shift suggests a move from general industrial waste processing toward circular economy solutions tailored to urban environments.

IMECAL is moving from broad industrial waste processing toward city-scale urban biowaste valorisation, positioning them for smart city and urban circular economy projects.

How they like to work

IMECAL operates primarily as a partner in larger consortia (2 of 3 projects) but has demonstrated leadership capacity by coordinating PERCAL. With 55 unique partners across 15 countries from just 3 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia typical of BBI and Innovation Action projects. This broad network suggests they are comfortable integrating their equipment and engineering capabilities into multi-partner demonstration initiatives.

IMECAL has built a substantial network of 55 unique partners across 15 countries through just 3 projects, indicating participation in large-scale European demonstration consortia. Their reach spans well beyond Iberia, covering a significant portion of EU member states.

What sets them apart

IMECAL brings something rare to biorefinery consortia: they are an SME that actually builds and operates the mechanical equipment needed to run waste-to-value processes at semi-industrial scale. While many partners contribute research or modelling, IMECAL provides the physical engineering and hardware to move concepts from lab to demonstration. For consortium builders, they fill the critical gap between academic research and industrial deployment of bio-based production systems.

Highlights from their portfolio

• URBIOFIN
  Largest project by far (EUR 1.37M to IMECAL), demonstrating an integrated biorefinery converting MSW into bioethanol, bioethylene, PHA, biomethane, and biofertiliser at semi-industrial scale.
• PERCAL
  IMECAL's only coordinator role — led a project on chemical building blocks from MSW biorefinery, demonstrating their capacity to manage EU-funded research.
• WaysTUP!
  Marks IMECAL's strategic pivot toward urban biowaste in city contexts, signalling a move into circular economy applications closer to end users.