The centre at Imphal came into existence in 1988 with equal assistance from Government of Manipur and Government of India. This apex institute was established with the prime objective of providing skilled manpower to the plastics industries in the area of plastics technology. CIPET Imphal has been significantly contributing in encouraging and assisting the local entrepreneurs in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland through organising training programmes in different disciplines of Plastics Engineering & Technology. In its constant endeavour of giving qualitative education, the Centre recruits well-qualified and trained faculties/technical personnel besides engaging expert Guest faculties drawn from reputed establishments/organizations on need basis. The centre has been equipped with the state of art equipments and machineries, which include conventional as well as Micro processor controlled processing machineries for manufacturing different types of products.

The centre has the distinction of being able to convert a PVC pipe Extrusion plant into a HDPE manufacturing plant. The Centre has also been equipped with a Testing Lab for testing the Physical, Mechanical, Electrical, Optical and Chemical properties of plastics. Very recently, the centre has been able to establish a CAD/CAM centre which hosts one of the most advanced design softwares viz Pro-Engineer wildfire as well as the only Computer Based Training (CBT) software for Processing in the State.

CIPET Imphal has active interaction with Manipur Entrepreneurs Association and other State Govt. Agencies for providing assistance to unemployed youth of Manipur. CIPET Imphal has ambitious plans to diversify its activities in the states of Mizoram and Nagaland as well.