Extrusion International 5-2026

51 Extrusion International 5/2026 Laboratory Services, Compounds and Digital Tools A t Fakuma, Meraxis will present its expanded portfolio to an in- ternational trade show audience for the rst time. Since the beginning of the year, the global polymer distribu- tor has been producing its own com- pounds and offeringmaterial testing services. Meraxis has taken over the REHAU Group’s compounding plant in Velen, North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), as well as its accredited testing laboratories in Rehau, Upper Franconia (Germany). With these ad- ditions and its continuously expand- ing range of digital solutions, Merax- is now covers not only material procurement, but also formulation development, standards-compliant testing and compounding. When plastics processors are look- ing for a material for a new applica- tion, they often require customized solutions. The process typically starts with formulation development, fol- lowed by the production of samples that are tested and documented in a series of trials. These steps gener- ally involve several different service providers. Compounds fromMeraxis’ Own Production Meraxis has been producing cus- tomized compounds at its own plant since January 2026. With an annual capacity of 50,000 tons, the facility supplies plastics processors across a range of industries, including appli- cations in the automotive and furni- ture industries, medical technology and household appliances. The PP portfolio includes mineral- and glass ber-reinforced grades, elastomer- modi ed variants and ame-retar - dant solutions. Fillers such as talc, chalk, glass beads and glass ber can be combined to achieve lling de - grees of up to 70%. For exible PVC, compounds are available with Shore hardness values ranging fromA 45 to 98 and up to D 50, including crystal- clear, cold-exible, ame-retardant and blowing-agent-containing vari- ants. The portfolio also includes TPEs, ABS, SAN, ASA, PA, PS, PC, PMMA, HDPE, LDPE and PP/PA blends. The plant processes both PIR and PCR recyclates, with recycled content of up to 100% of the polymer compo- nent depending on requirements. Emission-optimized variants are also available on request. Comprehensive Testing Methods and Recognized Standards Before a product made from a new material enters series production, it must undergo the relevant testing – and the requirements are becom- ing increasingly stringent. A grow- ing number of customers, including automotive manufacturers, require proof of compliance with their own OEM speci cations. In the packaging industry, statutory recycled-content quotas are increasingly driving the switch to recycledmaterials. Since the material properties of recyclates tend to uctuate more widely, the need for testing and validation is also in- creasing. TheMeraxis laboratory net- work offers more than 500 testing procedures, including 64 accredited methods in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018. Across approxi - mately 1,250 m² of laboratory space, its capabilities range from chemi- cal analysis and physical-mechanical testing to weathering and climate testing, microscopy and surface char- acterization. Plastics, compounds, composites, recyclates and coated components can all be quali ed. Digital Tools Along the Value Chain Alongside the Meraxis team, deep-tech company Polymerize will also be represented at the Fakuma booth. Through Polymerize, Merax- is customers and partners have ac- cess to a materials informatics plat- form. The AI-supported solution evaluates experimental and produc- tion data, identi es correlations be - tween formulations and properties, and recommends formulations and process parameters. The software can accelerate formulation develop- ment while reducing development costs and resource requirements, helping products reach market readiness faster. Meraxis has been continuously expanding its digital offering for several years. Its customer portal, for example, brings together order and delivery information, provides CO 2 footprint reports for materials and transportation, and suggests recyclate alternatives with lower CO 2 emissions. The “Track & Trace” function also allows deliveries to be tracked in real time, providing greater transparency across the sup- ply chain. Meraxis www.Meraxis-group.com/ Fakuma 2026: A6-6323 Dominic Tilgner, Director Advanced Materials and Applications: “We bring together raw material expertise, material development, compounding, and accredited material and component testing, shortening the path from initial idea to nished product. Processors decide for themselves which of our capabilities they want to use. By combining several steps with Meraxis, they have fewer points of contact to coordinate and can save time and costs with every interface eliminated.” (Source: Meraxis)