ZANESVILLE, Ohio, Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AXION
International Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: AXIH), a leader in recycled
polymer technologies used to produce ECOTRAX® composite rail
ties/sleepers and STRUXURE® composite building products is pleased
to announce today that it has increased all phases of its
production output, adding manufacturing and fabrication
capabilities and capacity at its company-operated facilities in
Waco, Texas, and Zanesville, Ohio.
Aligning with what CEO Claude Brown,
Jr. wrote in his letter to shareholders in late 2014,
AXION's production rate at its Waco facility has been steadily increased over
the past six months to meet the growth in demand for its engineered
products, consistently improving monthly recycled-plastic
throughput from 1.5 million to over 2 million pounds, a Company
record. To continue to meet current demand, production output must
remain above 2 million pounds per month.
According to Ron Hensen, the
Company's Waco facility manager,
"Recent production gains are attributed primarily to improvements
in raw material sourcing and the addition, training, and
stabilization of a fourth shift." The Waco facility now operates 24 hours per day, 7
days per week. The rate of regrind from unusable output, another
factor and key performance indicator that typically escalates
during production increases, has been reduced by 18% over the same
period.
"Adding capacity at both facilities has been and continues to be
a key goal, and we have more than doubled our yield in less than
one year as we've significantly reduced our rate of unusable
output," explained R. Russell Hall,
VP of Operation Systems and Quality. "We are also focusing on
fabrication and services that further distinguish AXION, which is a
customer-driven emphasis that facilitates growth efficiently."
In Waco, construction mat
fabrication continues at an increased rate, matching the doubling
in other areas of the business. Related fabrication capabilities
have been brought on-line for the ECOTRAX® rail division to meet
the increase in demand for pre-plated rail ties, as well as a
Company drive to offer that value-added service. Cutting and
plating of tunnel ties, a new operation to meet demand for domestic
transits and railroads, is underway, increasing the breadth of
AXION's core competence in that location.
AXION's Zanesville operation
started processing high-density polyethylene plastic in baled
bottles for support of extrusion and mat fabrication processes in
the middle of December. Plastic reprocessing capacity has doubled.
Most of the reprocessed plastic is used as raw material for
production of AXION's construction mats that are manufactured using
two types of extrusion lines: continuous extrusion for small- and
medium-sized profiles and molded extrusion for larger profiles.
In early February at its Zanesville facility, AXION began fabrication
of laminated and heavy mats, two types of construction mats in its
STRUXURE® line. Laminated mat fabrication is expanding to keep pace
with growing order quantities. The Company is also increasing
construction mat inventory levels in Waco and Zanesville to service large customers.
Given the demand across its ECOTRAX® composite rail tie and
STRUXURE® construction mat lines, AXION has begun preparation for
another doubling of production capacity before the end of 2015.
About AXION International Holdings, Inc.
AXION (OTCQB:
AXIH) creates innovative structural polymer solutions, engineering
sustainable products and systems that provide improved long-term
value, consistent performance, and reduced maintenance costs. Made
with recycled plastics, AXION's products are non-corrosive,
impervious to moisture, do not leach chemicals, are resistant to
insects and rot, and are capable of supporting heavy loads. From
the transportation to the energy industries, AXION develops
superior polymer solutions for infrastructure needs around the
world. Visit www.AXIH.com for more information.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains
"forward-looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and
Exchange Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements
are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause
AXION's actual results to differ materially from those currently
anticipated, including the availability of materials at favorable
pricing, sufficient manufacturing capability and the risk factors
identified in AXION's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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SOURCE AXION International Holdings, Inc.