Roberto Almendros
About
International Project Manager, R&D and Strategic Purchasing Manager. 30 years varied experience in Innovation and Regulatory Affairs. Expert in the field of plastic materials, process and product development.
Work Experience
Technical Manager
Engineering thermoplastic compounds / Extrusion and Non-reactive compounding / 10kton per year capacity. ACCOUNTABILITIES: Stimulated New Product Development: Project Management & Technical Support. Reached 20% product portfolio revamping: strategic development, differentiating solutions, novel routes. ACHIEVEMENTS: Initiated 2 major chemical registers: REACH substance declarations and IMDS material database. Pioneered “low cost” Wood Polymer Composites and formulated PLA compounds, Halogen free Polyamides.
LAB (3 years) / CAE (6 years) Product Development Engineer
Automotive / TIER 1 full-service Supplier / Injection molded interior parts (dashboards, door panels). ACCOUNTABILITIES: Translated requirements into technical solutions: R&D representative within the product development teams. Strengthened core expertise: R&D member delivering product specifications, CAE concepts. ACHIEVEMENTS: Enabled proprietary concepts for door panel paddings: contribution to EuroNCAP 5 stars safety rating. Formalized benchmark routines for “low cost” outsourced CAE suppliers (30% savings target).
European Plastic Materials & Process Manager
FMCG / Houseware plastic articles / Injection molding and In-Mold-Labelling. ACCOUNTABILITIES: Raised material/process innovation, regulatory affairs (Food Contact), and fostered “right at 1st time”. Expanded expertise within the NPD team, interacted with Purchases, Operations, Quality, Brand Marketing. ACHIEVEMENTS: Created, accelerated, completed the implementation of alternative materials, additives, recycled materials. Generated substantial savings through material and process lean management (100k€/year target).
Senior Strategic Purchaser Plastics
Consumer Goods / Baby care / 1st in class safety seats (infant car seats, booster seats, baby shells). ACCOUNTABILITIES: Maximized strategic sourcing, prospecting novel routes, challenged 3rd suppliers, negotiated supply contracts. Introduced market expertise and implemented fresh savings concepts (10% cost slash over indexed prices). ACHIEVEMENTS: Personified technical support management through plastic SME mentoring and VA/VE initiatives. Boosted agile purchasing, solved local/global plastics shortage situations (3 areas: Europe, Americas, China).
Purchase Manager
Founded in 1902 / High Performance Polymer Compounds / Safety regulated and Healthcare applications. ACCOUNTABILITIES: Headed raw material EMEA global procurement for WITTENBURG (NL) / WITCOM (NL) / XUNFENG (China). Shaped material management (3 facilities), empowering sustainability and new business development. ACHIEVEMENTS: Firmed up supply, settled agreements and contracts with strategic raw materials partners. Ran intensive prospection, scored multiple-sourcing programs and local sourcing deals especially in Asia.
R&D Manager Plastics
ORBIA Building & Infrastructure / Piping and Fittings / Plastic pressure pipes / Gas and Water Management. ACCOUNTABILITIES: Growing and delivering material and formulation expertise at a corporate level (LATAM and EMEA). Widening and implementing new material opportunities, supporting innovation and sustainability strategies.
Education
(MSc1) Polymer Engineering & Plasturgy
MST “Plasturgie”
(BSc) Chemical Engineering
DUT Génie Chimique
(MSc2) Polymer dynamics and Rheology
DEA “Polymères”