KAO CHIMIGRAF SLU

Their core work

KAO Chimigraf is a Spanish specialty chemicals company based in Rubí, Catalonia, operating within the KAO Corporation group. Their core business revolves around functional coatings, printing inks, and surface treatment formulations — making them a natural fit for packaging innovation projects. In both H2020 projects they participated in, their contribution was almost certainly in the area of barrier coatings or functional ink systems applied to bio-based and pulp-based packaging substrates. They bring industrial-scale chemistry expertise to consortia focused on replacing fossil-based packaging materials with renewable alternatives.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Both projects were initiated within one year of each other (2016–2017) and ran concurrently until 2021, which means there is no meaningful timeline shift to analyze — Chimigraf entered H2020 with a clear, consistent focus on bio-based packaging coatings and maintained that focus throughout. The progression from BioBarr (a research-stage project, BBI-RIA) to PULPACKTION (a demonstration-stage project, BBI-IA-DEMO) suggests they were simultaneously deepening scientific understanding and scaling up industrial application. If a trend exists, it points toward readiness for commercial deployment rather than exploratory research.

Their dual participation in both a research project and a demonstration project on the same topic suggests a company ready to move bio-based coating technologies toward market — a potential partner for scale-up or commercialisation projects rather than early-stage research.

How they like to work

Chimigraf participates exclusively as a consortium member, never as coordinator — consistent with an industrial company that contributes specific material or chemistry expertise rather than leading scientific programmes. With 21 unique partners across 9 countries from just two projects, they operate within large, multi-stakeholder consortia typical of BBI-JU funded projects. This suggests they are comfortable as a specialist industrial contributor in complex multi-partner settings.

Chimigraf has built connections with 21 partners across 9 countries through two projects, a notably wide network for such a small H2020 footprint. This breadth reflects the pan-European nature of BBI-JU consortia, which routinely span the full value chain from bio-feedstock suppliers to end-user brands.

What sets them apart

Chimigraf occupies a rare position as an industrial coatings and inks manufacturer within the bio-based packaging research space — a sector usually dominated by universities and material science institutes. Backed by the resources of the KAO Corporation group, they bring both formulation chemistry depth and credible scale-up capacity that pure research partners cannot offer. For a consortium needing an industrial partner who can actually produce and test barrier coatings on bio-based substrates at meaningful volumes, Chimigraf is a strong candidate.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PULPACKTION
  The largest funded project (€613K EC contribution) and a BBI demonstration-stage initiative, signalling Chimigraf's ability to operate at industrial scale rather than just lab level.
• BioBarr
  A research-stage project focused specifically on enhanced barrier properties in bio-based food packaging — directly aligned with the core chemistry competence of a coatings manufacturer.