Axel Plastics Research Laboratories (AXEL) is a US-based manufacturer of mold release and process aid additives for all types of plastics, composites, rubbers, and urethanes.
We are a third generation, family-owned business located in Monroe, Connecticut.
AXEL products are available throughout the world with stocking distributors on 6 continents serving over 50 countries. We serve our customers with local distributors and knowledgeable sales people, supported by a team of experienced chemists and production engineers.
With 50 employees on 3 continents, our business is led by Frank Axel, Chairman, and Jake Axel, President.
Our Values: The AXEL Way
Our strength as a company comes from our alignment and commitment to our values as individuals:
- Be customer focused
- Go the extra mile
- Be the best versions of ourselves
- Strive to continuously learn and improve
- Care and support each other like family
- Have fun and enjoy the journey
Interested in joining our team? Check out our open positions here or reach out directly.
Our History: Engineering Chemistry Since 1941
AXEL was founded by Dr. Rodolphe Axel in 1941 as a result of his wartime research at Columbia University. The company’s product line originated from coatings which he designed to save glass beakers, which were scarce during World War II.
The company’s first New York home was a loft in lower Manhattan. At this point, the young business could not exist on mold release sales alone, so Dr. Axel, inventor, innovator, and entrepreneur, also manufactured vinyl doll parts and polyurethane seat cushions. By the late 1950s, the Axel name and the company’s release products had become well recognized by molders in the growing plastic and rubber industries and the company’s future was bright.
As demand for AXEL’s MoldWiz® products increased, the company moved into a larger industrial space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
By the 1960s, AXEL was not only supplying mold release agents and processing aid additives to American industry, but had also expanded to overseas markets in Europe and Asia. In 1960, AXEL moved to a larger manufacturing space in Long Island City.
After several expansions, the company moved to Woodside, Queens, in 1976. Since then, three additional adjacent properties were acquired to support the company’s continuous growth.
In 2001, the company added the XTEND trademark to its product line. These semi-permanent mold releases are an important component in the product mix.
In 2012, the company purchased 10 acres of land in Monroe, Connecticut for a new facility.
AXEL’s headquarters in Monroe, CT with our newly-installed solar panels
In 2017, AXEL relocated to Monroe, Connecticut, having built a 42,000 sq ft facility to expand their manufacturing, R&D, and laboratory capabilities, allowing for continued growth and development.
In 2023, we completed the first phase of our commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation at our location in Monroe. We installed a 293.76 kW solar panel system, which can product approximately 310,505 kWh annually, significantly reducing our carbon footprint. The second phase of this process, due to be completed in 2025, includes an advanced storage battery to store excess power generated by the solar panels and redistribute it during peak times.
AXEL is certified with ISO 9001:2015, working towards 45001 and 14001 ISO certifications, and is both REACH and RoHS compliant.
