Interview with Jaime García, Managing Director of Guztec Polymers, and Tiago Guimarães, Co-CEO of AGI
In 2002, Guztec Polymers —the leading distributor of engineering materials in Spain— acquired a 50% stake in AGI (Augusto Guimarães & Irmão), Portugal’s leading distributor of top brands in machinery, raw materials and equipment for the plastics, 3D printing and construction industries. As a result of this family-business joint venture, both companies strengthened their leadership positions in their respective countries and expanded their portfolios. Since 2020, AGI and Guztec Polymers have been part of Hromatka Group,one of Europe’s major polymer distribution groups, present in 28 countries. Once again, Guztec and AGI are joining forces as exhibitors and Premium Sponsors at Equiplast 2026, underlining the importance of a plastics sector that continues to evolve towards more sustainable solutions.
What synergies led Guztec and AGI to participate jointly in the trade fair?
JG: The collaboration launched in 2002 has been key in combining the expertise and knowledge of both companies. Through this partnership, we began developing our machinery business, initially under Guztec Polymers and later via AGI Spain. This evolution has enabled us to establish ourselves as full-service partners and suppliers, providing clients with comprehensive solutions that range from raw materials to state-of-the-art machinery.
TG: Success in the plastics industry depends on the integration of both raw materials and machinery. A deep understanding of these elements allows us to better appreciate our customers’ perspectives and offer alternative solutions that enhance efficiency and future-proof their processes.
Thanks to this synergy, AGI, together with Guztec, has previously participated in Equiplast. Our involvement in the upcoming edition reflects our commitment to innovation and excellence, offering clients streamlined access to product and service solutions across the sector.
What are your objectives for Equiplast 2026?
JG: We will showcase some of the most advanced solutions offered by the international brands we represent. Working with top-tier manufacturers allows us to bring technical materials already in use in industries such as automotive, electrical, construction, and packaging, addressing very specific challenges: sustainability, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
One of our primary areas of focus is sustainability, driven by growing demand for materials meeting stringent environmental standards. We offer an extensive range of solutions covering nearly all types of sustainable materials, providing our clients with options tailored to their specific needs.
This year, we will emphasise materials that meet regulatory and functional requirements, such as recycled or bio-based options, as well as halogen-free and regulated-substance-free formulations. Another key area is the replacement of metals with technical plastics, which is increasingly implemented across industries in line with European regulations like RePowerEU. This substitution reduces weight, assembly costs, and carbon footprint, supporting energy efficiency and sustainability objectives.
Why would you recommend that industry companies visit Equiplast?
TG: Equiplast has long been the leading event for the plastics processing industry in the Iberian Peninsula. It has become an essential meeting point for showcasing the sector’s dynamism, connecting with manufacturers, hearing their perspectives, and gaining first-hand experience.
It is also a prime opportunity to generate business, interact with multiple suppliers in one location, and gain a rapid overview of the market. Visitors can explore operational processes and see how new technologies and materials add real value to their operations. Equiplast provides direct access to advanced polymer, machinery, and equipment solutions, driving technological updates. It is a key event for establishing strategic contacts, sharing knowledge, and anticipating future trends in the industry.
What sets you apart from other distributors of polymers and machinery for plastics manufacturers?
JG:At Guztec Polymers, we are proud to be Spain’s oldest polymer distributor, with over sixty years of experience. This long history has enabled us to establish leadership in engineering polymers and become one of the main players in high-volume polymer distribution.
What truly differentiates us from other national distributors is our ability to offer comprehensive solutions through our partnership with AGI in Portugal. This alliance makes us the only distributor able to provide clients with a global service covering everything from raw materials to machinery and processing equipment.
TG: We are also part of a leading European group, which gives us broad market insight. Yet, we operate autonomously and locally, maintaining close proximity to our clients. This closeness is key. Our highly skilled technical team has deep knowledge of materials and industrial equipment, allowing us to accurately interpret manufacturers’ needs and provide effective, tailored solutions.
Which client profiles do you mainly serve, and which sectors are most prominent?
JG: Our extensive portfolio allows us to meet nearly any plastic materials need. While all sectors are important, automotive, packaging, and electrical account for a large part of our activity. We also serve construction, consumer electronics, healthcare and personal care, agriculture, and industrial packaging, as well as consumer goods, sports, leisure, appliances, and transport. This diversity allows us to adapt to each challenge with specific technical solutions backed by leading international brands.
TG: We work with manufacturers and processors of all sizes who share a common goal: advancing, better serving their clients, and maintaining profitability through sustainable solutions. This variety allows us to bring real value across multiple contexts and support our clients with solutions tailored to their needs.
What are your main markets beyond the Iberian Peninsula, and do you have international expansion plans?
JG: Between 2020 and 2022, our companies joined Hromatka Group, which has developed raw material distribution through its various companies across Europe: Plastoplan, Lenorplas, Grasslin, Aectra, as well as Guztec Polymers and its subsidiaries in Italy and Turkey.
Within this expansion, notable initiatives include establishing new companies under the Plastoplan brand in the UK and Greece, reinforcing raw material distribution in key markets. These initiatives form part of a global strategy to bring our products and services closer to increasingly diverse and demanding markets. We are currently evaluating operations in emerging countries to continue our growth strategy and strengthen our position as global leaders in polymer distribution. This approach will allow us to expand our reach and comprehensively meet international demand.
What are the main pillars of your sustainability strategy, and to what extent do you rely on renewable raw materials?
JG: For both Guztec Polymers and AGI, sustainability is not a future concern—it has been a reality for some time. We have access to a full range of sustainable solutions, including mechanically or chemically recycled materials, bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable options.
In industrial equipment, we focus on fully electric injection moulding machines with significantly lower energy consumption than traditional hydraulic machines, as well as top-tier shredders that help clients achieve high-quality recycling with minimal energy use.
TG: Coming from multi-generational family businesses, sustainability has naturally been part of every decision. It’s not a trend or obligation, but a way of doing business. We work with a wide range of renewable materials and integrate advanced solutions for recycled material use, always adapting to clients’ technical and regulatory requirements. Our machinery offerings include highly efficient shredders for direct material recovery and fully electric injection machines with AI-assisted servo control, allowing large volumes to be processed with consistent quality and minimal energy consumption.
What key trends do you see in plastics demand?
JG: The most significant trends focus on sustainable materials and solutions, driven by both European and international regulations and growing societal demand for decarbonisation and circularity. New regulatory requirements impact all sectors, from post-consumer recycled content to increasing use of bio-based materials. This transformation affects packaging, where specific legislation exists, as well as automotive, electronics, and construction, which are beginning to incorporate these criteria into development and supply chains.
Why should the industry continue to invest in plastics?
JG: Plastics remain, by far, one of the most versatile, efficient, and technologically advanced materials available. Modern industries—from automotive to medical, electronics, construction, and food—would not be viable without plastics, at least not at the required levels of safety, lightness, efficiency, and cost.
Our clients seek materials that meet technical requirements while complying with environmental standards. Innovation in plastics enables weight reduction, improved energy efficiency, and extended product life. For example, replacing metal with technical polymers can reduce component weight by up to 30%, with associated CO₂ emissions reduction of up to 7% per 10% weight reduction, according to PlasticsEurope. Plastics also reduce impacts in food preservation and sterile medical products. Without them, food waste and health risks would be significantly higher.
TG: Our historical perspective shows how plastics have accompanied economic and social development since industrial inception, and this process continues. New materials are developed, applications become more efficient, and less safe or sustainable resources are replaced. At Guztec and AGI, we remain committed to this evolution, incorporating new technologies and continuously improving processes and materials for a more efficient, safe, and energy-conscious industry.
Plastics continue to be part of the solution across mobility, logistics, healthcare, water distribution, and energy, providing safe, lightweight, and functional solutions to current and future challenges. The sector has helped—and continues to help—build a more efficient, safe, sustainable, and accessible world.
