First order received for recycled polymers for PIM process

Environmental Recycling Technologies plc (ERT) and Axion Polymers (Axion) have announced their first order for formulated recycled polymers tailored to the ERT Powder Impression Moulding (PIM) technology.

The contract follows the commercial collaboration agreement between Axion and ERT for the development of recycled plastic powder formulations for use by end-user customers using the Powder Impression Moulding (PIM) technology.

The agreement brings together Axion’s in-house expertise in polymer processing and quality assurance with ERT’s patented PIM technology, to prepare a set of standard PIM powder products under the registered brand name, ‘Axplas’. The 100 percent recycled plastics formulation ensures consistency of blend and increased final product strength whilst simplifying the end customer’s production process and reducing process wastage levels.

Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, ERT provides know-how and pilot scale test equipment to enable recycled plastic by-products to be milled into controlled powder blends that can then be moulded using PIM moulding technology.

This is complemented by Axion’s extensive polymer processing knowledge and blending facilities to enable a set of formulations to be created from the engineering plastics recovered by the company’s innovative automotive end-of-life vehicle and waste electrical equipment recycling plants (ELV’s and WEEE). ERT receives a royalty on the tonnage shipped by Axion under the terms of the agreement.

In support of the collaboration, ERT has deployed a dedicated Polymer Technologist to concentrate 100 percent on developing the recycled powder blends and the associated polymer tests to accompany the processing system.

“We are delighted that our collaboration has generated its inaugural commercial order,” commented Lee Clayton, Managing Director, ERT. “Axion has demonstrated its commitment to develop Axplas PIM powder formulations, to support the roll out of our PIM technology for the recycling of plastic waste into commercial end user products, and are able to ship at scale to current and potential licencees.”