Axion International Holdings, a leader in recycled plastic and plastic composite technologies used to produce Ecotrax rail ties and Struxure building products, announced its Struxure 100% recycled products are drawing interest from the mining industry.
“Our Ecotrax rail ties have already been in track testing in Chile with one of the largest mining companies in the world. With a recent order for roof supports, we are expanding our product offerings into the mining industry. Opening new end use markets for our proprietary products is a key part of our growth strategy,” said Axion President and CEO Steve Silverman.
An order for roof-support materials from a large mining company, according to Axion, followed product testing at two independent evaluation facilities: the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and at TUV Rheinland Industrial Solutions. Based on these independent tests, which evaluated the products’ weight-bearing capacity, Struxure was approved for use in underground mining operations.
Axion subsequently shipped pilings and boards to a major U.S. coal mining company through Pennsylvania-based Williamstown Mining, a distributor to the coal mining industry in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. The specific application in the field test of Struxure products is for roof support in coal mining.
Williamstown Mining Vice President of Operations Denny Welsh said, “Axion’s Struxure products offer a new solution for mining applications including roof support and cribbing. Purchase decisions in the mining industry are based on strength, weight, life cycle, safety and cost of products. Sustainable materials are viewed positively. In the end, it comes down to performance and cost over time. Based on Struxure’s properties and proven performance, we expect to see strong interest from miners.”
“This is a trial order, which we believe will lead to more purchases from the coal mining industry. The wet and acidic conditions in mines lead to deterioration of traditional wood, concrete and steel materials, whereas Struxure is impervious to those elements,” said Dave Crane, Axion’s executive vice president–building products.
