Demand increases for sustainable high-grade polymers

Fast rising customer demand for Axion Polymers’ recycled polymer grades is driving expansion for the Manchester-based plastics recycler.

Demand from the construction, drainage, water and horticultural sectors is increasing for sustainably-sourced high-grade polymers that can be formulated to match customers’ specifications.

With more than 40 years’ of polymer compounding experience between Commercial Operations Manager Steve Bell and Product Development Technologist Mark Keenan, fulfilling customers’ technical needs is Axion’s key specialism.

High-grade recycled plastic

Axion’s Axpoly high-grade recycled plastics are sourced from their end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling facility, the Shredder Waste Advanced Processing Plant (SWAPP) at Trafford Park and refined further at its advanced polymer processing site in Salford.

Mark Kennen commented: “More manufacturers are recognising the value of using recycled polymers that not only can be modified to suit specific requirements, such as adjusting melt flow, impact resistance and tensile strength, but also are genuinely sustainable.

We are working with a number of new customers, including a building components manufacturer, for whom we have developed polymers with specific characteristics for their respective products. Of course, all customers also benefit from the opportunity to reduce their carbon impact, the cost savings on virgin plastics and reliable, consistent supply.”

A recent example is bio-reactor packing pieces where Axion achieved the precise melt flow rate to rapidly fill a complicated 24-up injection moulding tool. After technical consultations took place at the customer’s site, custom compounds were developed to suit the process.

The polymer was extensively tested to ensure the formulation was correct. Following the initial success, Axion supplied a further variation to the original polypropylene grade.

Mark added: “In the transition to a circular materials economy, it’s clear that manufacturers are recognising the advantages of using high-quality recycled polymers in new products. At Axion Polymers, our expertise, technology and products can help them realise their vision.”

Axion
Tenax Road
Trafford Park
Manchester
M17 1JT

Visit Axion's website

Visit Supplier's page