Feb 25 2011
Axion International (OTCBB: AXIH), a leading producer of industrial building products and railroad ties made from 100% recycled plastic, announced that through the existing relationship with its sales representative, Innovative Green Solutions, LLC (IGS), Axion has received an initial purchase order to supply its proprietary Recycled Structural Composite (RSC) crossties to the Regional Transportation District in Colorado.
As part of the initial purchase order, Axion has delivered approximately $20,000 worth of its RSC crossties to replace select concrete ties. Axion’s RSC is an innovative and proprietary product made from 100% recycled plastic. The ties will be utilized to replace concrete ties in the track immediately before and after bridges on the Regional Transportation District’s West Corridor light rail line. The Regional Transportation District operates the public transit services throughout the Denver-Aurora and Boulder metropolitan areas of Colorado.
“Axion’s RSC technology has been an ideal replacement for concrete ties in track immediately before and after bridge abutments,” commented Mike Spalding, Track Superintendent for Denver Transit Construction Group, general contractor to the Regional Transportation District. “This order was requested so we could replace the cracking concrete ties that have surfaced due to the high levels of uneven pressure exerted on the crossties where the bridge and roadbed meet. Axion’s high-quality composite ties have proven to be extremely strong and durable, yet flexible enough to resist the type of cracking we have seen in concrete.”
Mr. Spalding continued, “Not only has Axion’s RSC shown superior performance near bridges, it has also proven an extremely easy material to work with on the site. The material is pre-drilled and can be cut with conventional tools in a similar manner to wood, as opposed to the concrete ties that come in pre-fabricated forms and cannot be customized on-site.”
Axion’s RSC will be placed in-line, contiguous to pre-existing concrete track that has been installed as part of the FasTracks construction project’s new West Corridor light rail line. The West Corridor will consist of 12.1 miles (19.5 km) of light rail track that follows a former Associated Railroad right-of-way. It is expected to be completed in 2013.
Steve Silverman, Axion’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are thrilled to supply our RSC material as part of this purchase order from the Regional Transportation District. We look forward to meeting any of Colorado’s future public transportation needs as our customers continue to demonstrate the real-world applications of our RSC technology and its superior strength and long-life characteristics compared with more traditional railroad tie material such as timber and concrete.”
The Regional Transportation District operates a bus and light rail system that has a service area of 2,337 square miles. It employs 2,526 people and reported over 100 million boardings in calendar years 2007 and 2008.
Developed in conjunction with Rutgers University’s Materials Sciences and Engineering Department, Axion’s RSC is inert and contains no toxic materials. It is impervious to insect infestation, will not leach toxic chemicals nor warp. Because it is lighter than traditional materials, transporting RSC is less expensive and reduces energy costs. In addition, RSC is completely recyclable at the end of its functional life.