Demand for Axion’s recycled polymers fuels positive outlook for 2016

Manchester-based reprocessor, Axion Polymers, says demand for its Axpoly polypropylene (PP) grades throughout the coming months has led it to forecast a positive outlook for 2016.

Having developed a broad range of high-grade recycled engineering polymers, the company attributes its growing success to getting its product performance, commercial terms and customer service right for the highly competitive plastics marketplace.

“We have had a great start to the year and are selling to a broad range of reliable customers who value the environmental benefits and consistent quality of our recycled plastics. They also really like our ability to offer stable prices that are not linked to volatile oil pricing; that makes a lot of sense to a lot of customers,” commented Keith Freegard, Axion Director.

Axion Polymers says its technical capability in supplying tailored polymers to suit specific end-user requirements, such as modified melt flow, impact resistance and tensile strength, is an additional factor that is driving growth.

Freegard says the company is now looking to repeat this success with its new high-impact polystyrene grade, Axpoly r-HIPS 1000. Suitable for a range of applications, including horticultural products, DIY goods, retail products and automotive components, all grades are tested to ISO standards, are RoHS-compliant and REACH-ready.

“Our focus is on further growing our customer base by developing a wider range of technical polymer resins and adding value by making novel plastic compounds that have physical properties that are usually difficult to achieve through standard methods – this ability to ‘be different’ is one of our core skills,” he explained.

Inviting enquiries regarding any potential application for the new HIPS or existing grades, Freegard added: “Many organisations today are under pressure to meet certain sustainability targets; particularly in the construction and civil engineering sectors where tender-winning contract offers must have a credible story in terms of the environmental benefits of the selected materials.

“Invariably, they are obliged to deliver products that have provable, traceable and solidly measured performance in terms of carbon impact and are also sustainably-sourced. Having the in-house expertise to demonstrate this is welcomed by our customers. Overall we are optimistic and confident about growth in 2016.”