NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Axion International (OTCBB: AXIH), producer of the world’s strongest recycled composite plastic industrial building products and railroad ties, announced today that Marc Solda will join Axion as its new Executive Vice President after more than 25 years of domestic and international operational experience in the plastics industry. This appointment is a crucial step for the company as Axion looks to strengthen its material sourcing network and expand its manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for its innovative Recycled Structural Composites (RSC).
Mr. Solda has been involved in the development, strategy, operations and marketing of plastic products for numerous global Fortune 500 companies as both a supplier and consultant. With a background in mechanical engineering and product design, Mr. Solda has delivered consistent growth and profitability for key products in multiple industries. His professional expertise has resulted in a well-established track record for commercializing and branding new plastic products and services.
“Marc has a unique and diverse background in both manufacturing and product commercialization,” stated Steve Silverman, Axion’s President and CEO. “Marc has worked with some of the largest enterprises in the world to develop and refine their plastic operations, so he is extremely knowledgeable about what it takes to properly optimize the entire plastic production process. We believe Marc will be a great addition to the management team as Axion looks to scale our manufacturing capabilities to meet the growing US and international demand for our unique 100% recycled plastic structural products. Marc also brings great business management skills, something every emerging company needs; we are excited and fortunate to have Marc joining the team.”
In his new role at Axion, Mr. Solda will lead efforts to optimize Axion’s manufacturing process by establishing efficient supply chain management, controlling cost of goods sold and establishing global quality standards. Part of this new mandate will include partnering with the right suppliers. Since the material sourcing market is very fragmented, with hundreds of outlets throughout the United States and internationally, Axion is determined to develop a global web of suppliers and build an efficient supply chain for post-consumer and post-industrial waste in order to lower costs.
Increasing Axion’s global manufacturing capacity is a major initiative for Mr. Solda, which is being driven in part by the company’s milestone $15 million contract with a major Class 1 railway announced in January 2011, in addition to the increasing number of contract-wins over the past several months. Axion has signed contracts with state and local governments, the US Army, and various corporations and public entities in the international community, including recent sales to Canada, Morocco and most recently Australia.
"I have worked with numerous enterprises over the years, however none have seemed to possess such dynamic growth potential in the plastics industry as Axion International,” said Marc Solda. “I am honored to come on board because I believe there are numerous industries that could be better served by adopting Axion’s longer lasting and environmentally friendly RSC. This is an exciting time in the company’s corporate evolution, as an increasing number of companies and governments around the world are signing new contracts and discovering the benefits of Axion’s 100% recycled plastic products.”
Mr. Solda is a member of the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and graduated from Villanova University with a BSG in Mechanical Engineering.
Axion’s RSC, developed in conjunction with Rutgers University’s Materials Sciences and Engineering Department, 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.
About Axion International
Axion International is a leading structural solution provider of cost-effective alternative infrastructure and building products. The Company’s "green" proprietary technologies allow for the development and manufacture of innovative structural products made from 100% recycled consumer and industrial plastics. Axion's up-cycled products are an economic and sustainable alternative to traditional building materials such as wood, steel or concrete. Developed in collaboration with scientists at Rutgers University, Axion's patented technologies allow for products that are extremely strong, durable, flexible in design, and low maintenance.
For additional information, please visit Axion’s corporate website: www.axionintl.com
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 risk factors identified in Axion’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.