Meraxis to showcase digital solutions at the 2024 Fakuma

Muri bei Bern (Switzerland), September 16, 2024. Meraxis will showcase its one-stop shop from October 15 to 19, 2024 at the Fakuma in Friedrichshafen, one of the leading international trade fairs for plastics processing. The global distributor will spotlight its expanding range of digital solutions at the trade fair. These are designed to streamline business processes of polymer processors and promote their sustainability activities. Meraxis will be unveiling several new tools and features at the trade fair. The full-service provider’s digital solutions complement its wide-ranging product and service portfolio, which includes polymers, additives, and investment goods, such as tools, machines, and trade parts.

Visitors at the Fakuma will be able to interactively test the expanded Meraxis customer portal, among other things. It functions as a central platform that customers can use to directly submit requests and orders. Further, it features an overview of all orders, delivery times, contracts, documents, and invoices. Additionally, the portal offers useful information, such as current market data.

Digital solutions – leading the way to greater sustainability

Meraxis is continuously expanding its portfolio of digital tools and the functions of its customer portal. One of the new features allows customers to view and compare in detail the CO₂ emissions for recyclates and new materials and download personalized CO₂ footprint reports. Potential recyclate alternatives for prime material can be identified in the new product catalog with a single click: the illustrated “Recycling Portfolio” also provides a detailed description of the specific environmental properties of the displayed material. The Meraxis recyclate range consists of R-PET, R-PE, R-PP, R-PS / ABS, and R-compounds. Biopolymers are also available.

The “Recycling Hub” is a new solution currently in its pilot phase. Meraxis suppliers can use this central data platform to record the material and quality data for their recyclates in a structured manner. This also includes technical parameters, such as material flow index, density, residual ash content, and the proportion of foreign polymers. Meraxis follows up on these values with in-house testing. Thanks to precise batch material data, customers receive with every delivery material in a quality that is tailored to their application.

Meraxis harnesses this strategic partnership to support its customers and suppliers in systematically implementing and using POLYMERIZE solutions to advance their sustainability initiatives. Kunal Sandeep, Co-Founder and CEO of POLYMERIZE, comments on the partnership: “With Meraxis as our partner, we now have access to European polymer converters and producers. This helps us to expand our position in this key market and further establish our platform in Europe.” Co-Founder and CTO Dr. Abhijit Salvekar adds: “Working in partnership with Meraxis, we are driving digital solutions in the polymer industry to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability in the sector.” In 2020, the two founded POLYMERIZE together. Sandeep is an accomplished founder in the realm of software-as-a-service. Salvekar has a long-standing practical research & development experience in the polymers industry.

Tools for optimized material selection and development

It is vital for polymer processors to determine the most suitable material for their specific application. Meraxis utilizes a digital “Material Recommendation System” for this purpose. After entering the required properties and technical parameters, the tool determines the perfect materials for the specific application and the respective manufacturing process. This allows Meraxis to make precise material recommendations. Meraxis is committed to supporting polymer processors in switching from virgin materials to recyclates or biopolymers.

The interplay of digital solutions substantially improves the available information on material quality and properties. This allows plastics processors to make more informed decisions about which material is best suited to achieve their sustainability goals. Meraxis’ ongoing digitalization strategy also features strategic partnerships, such as the collaboration announced in August 2024 with the AI start-up Polymerize. The deep tech company provides a materials informatics platform that allows plastics companies to optimize their materials development, lower development costs, and bring new and more sustainable products to market faster.

More transparency in the supply chain

In addition to the services in the sales and after-sales processes, material selection, and development, Meraxis utilizes other digital solutions, such as “Track & Trace” in logistics. The system improves the reliability of the supply chain by allowing the scheduling team to track deliveries in real time and to react to changes at an early stage. The real-time data further assists customers in planning their unloading and provision times more efficiently. As a result, they can avoid being either “out of stock” or having excess stock and reduce warehousing costs.

These and other digital solutions are developed together with customers, suppliers, and other partners. Meraxis is collaborating with them to advance digital services in the value chain of the polymer-processing industry.

Meraxis will be at the 2024 Fakuma from October 15 to 19 in hall B4, stand 4111.

About the Meraxis Group

With over 2 billion euros sales, Meraxis is one of the world’s leading plastics distributors. In addition to its headquarters in Muri near Bern (Switzerland), the trade group has around 30 locations worldwide. As a full-service provider, the Meraxis Group provides its customers with targeted support in the strategic procurement of polymers and polymer-related products: In the one-stop shop, plastics processors obtain standard plastics (e.g. PE, PP, PET, PVC), engineering plastics, masterbatches, recycled materials, and biopolymers. Meraxis also provides capital goods such as injection molding machines, systems, and tools as well as aids for upstream and downstream production processes.

Meraxis works together with a global network of established suppliers and partners. The company has many years of experience in the development and processing of high-quality polymers as well as in handling complex logistics processes. Meraxis offers comprehensive consulting services: Among other things, the company actively supports plastics processors in the selection and procurement of sustainable materials and the switch to recycled materials. Together with partners and customers, Meraxis is also developing digital solutions to promote the recycling economy and transparency in the value chain. For example, a CO2 footprint tool facilitates the selection of the lowest-emission material.

www.meraxis-group.com

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