AXEL Celebrates 85 Years of Innovation, Family Ownership, and Global Impact

MichelleNews

Monroe, Connecticut, February 2026: AXEL Plastics Research Laboratories, Inc. (AXEL), a U.S.-based manufacturer of mold release and process aid additives, proudly marks its 85th anniversary, celebrating a legacy of innovation, technical expertise, and customer partnership that began in 1941.

Founded by Dr. Rodolphe Axel as the result of wartime research at Columbia University, AXEL began with coatings designed to conserve scarce laboratory glassware during World War II. That spirit of practical innovation quickly evolved into a focused commitment to mold release agents and processing aid additives for the growing plastics and rubber industries.

Today, AXEL is a third‑generation, family‑owned company headquartered in Monroe, Connecticut, serving customers worldwide with a comprehensive portfolio of proprietary solutions for plastics, composites, rubbers, and urethanes. The company’s well‑known brands—including MoldWiz®, XTEND®, PasteWiz®, and CleanWiz®—are trusted by manufacturers across a wide range of industries.

Over the decades, AXEL has expanded its reach far beyond its early New York roots. The company now supports customers around the world, working through a global network of technical experts and distributors who provide local service backed by in‑house chemists and engineers.

“As we celebrate 85 years, we remain guided by the same principles that shaped AXEL from the beginning: engineering‑driven chemistry, close collaboration with customers, and continuous improvement,” said Jake Axel, President. “Our history is a source of pride, but our focus remains firmly on the future and on helping manufacturers solve increasingly complex processing challenges.”

As AXEL enters its next chapter, the company continues to develop efficient, environmentally conscious solutions for new materials and technologies, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner to manufacturers around the world.

For more information about AXEL and its history, visit www.axelplastics.com.

About AXEL Plastics Research Laboratories, Inc.

AXEL Plastics Research Laboratories, Inc. is a U.S.-based manufacturer of proprietary mold release agents and process aid additives for plastics, composites, rubbers, and urethanes. Founded in 1941, AXEL is a third‑generation, family‑owned company headquartered in Monroe, Connecticut, serving customers globally through a network of distributors and technical experts.

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CONTACT

Michelle Matschke
Chief of Staff
mmatschke@axelplastics.com
203.590.2000 x116

AXEL Appoints Juan Carlos Medina as Market Development Manager

MichelleNews

October 1, 2025 (Monroe, Connecticut) – AXEL Plastics Research Laboratories (“AXEL”), a leading manufacturer of mold release and process aid additives, has appointed Juan Carlos Medina as Market Development Manager. Based in Texas, Juan Carlos will be focused on assisting our North American sales team with growing in the polyurethane market.

Juan Carlos has more than 20 years of polyurethane sales and market development experience through prior roles at Dow Chemical.

“Juan Carlos has a proven ability to expand market presence, making him an outstanding choice for this position,” said Ben Arnold, VP Global Commercial. “As AXEL advances and innovates in new strategic markets, we remain committed to bringing on top talent to help us realize our goals.”

About AXEL: AXEL Plastics Research Laboratories, Inc. is a chemical additive company. It was founded in 1941 and is currently in its third generation of family ownership and operation. AXEL serves the global market through direct sales, an expansive network of distributors, and technically trained representatives.

 

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CONTACT

Michelle Matschke
Chief of Staff
mmatschke@axelplastics.com
203.590.2000 x116

CAMX | Sept 8 – 11 | Orlando, FL

MichelleNews, Trade Show

CAMX – the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo – is the largest, most comprehensive composites and advanced materials event in North America. With a robust education program and an expansive exhibit hall with hundreds of manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers, CAMX delivers a unique experience and unrivaled opportunities.

Visit the AXEL booth at F22 and meet with our team to talk all things composites.

NAPC | Chicago, IL | May 6 – 8

MichelleNews, Trade Show

The AXEL team will be exhibiting at the North American Pultrusion Conference, presented by the American Composites Manufacturers Association in partnership with the European Pultrusion Technology Association, is a unique education and networking event that will:

  • Showcase the latest pultrusion applications and methods
  • Highlight how pultrusion is used within various industries and market segments
  • Increase industry-wide understanding and knowledge of the benefits of pultrusion

Reach out to set up a time to meet with the AXEL team.

Learn more about the ACMA.

PMA | Apr 27 – 29 | Destin, FL

MichelleNews, Trade Show

The AXEL team will be at the Polyurethane Manufacturing Association 2025 Annual Meeting, held in Destin, FL.

PMA, the Polyurethane Manufacturers Association, is the industry’s trusted resource for the latest technology, practices, and knowledge. They are committed to accelerating members’ success— both by promoting polyurethane’s many advantages over rubber, plastic, and metal and by advancing new business opportunities in diverse markets.

About PMA

Contact the AXEL team to set up a time to meet.

mumbai

ICERP India | Jan 22 – 25 | Mumbai

MichelleNews, Trade Show

The International Conference and Exhibition on Reinforced Plastics (ICERP) event is organized by FRP Institute once in every two years. The first event on the ICERP series was held in 2002 at IIT Madras, Chennai.

ICERP India is an important event of the Indian composites industry organized by FRP Institute once in every two years and ICERP event is the biggest event on Composites in India and second biggest event in Asia. The next event, ICERP 2025, will be the held during 21st to 23rd January 2025 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India. The ICERP 2025 is 11th in the series being organized by FRP Institute since 2002.The focus of the next ICERP show will be up-gradation of composites technology in India to reach global level in terms of product quality, finishing and also to address the challenges that have to be met to achieve global standards.

Visit us at the Link Composites booth No. D18! 

AXEL booth at JEC

JEC | Mar 4 -6 | Paris, France

MichelleNews, Trade Show

JEC World gathers the whole value chain of the composite materials industry in Paris every year and is “the place to be” for composites professionals from all over the world. The event brings together not only all major global companies, but also innovative startups in the field of composites and advanced materials, experts, academics, scientists, and R&D leaders.

To learn more and register for the event, click here.

Visit AXEL in Hall 5, Booth E 38 to discover our all new advanced composites line of products.

CAMX | Sept 9 – 12 | San Diego, CA

MichelleTrade Show

CAMX – the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo – is the largest, most comprehensive composites and advanced materials event in North America. With a robust education program and an expansive exhibit hall with hundreds of manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers, CAMX delivers a unique experience and unrivaled opportunities.

Visit the AXEL booth at EE42 and meet with our team to talk all things composites.

Whether you mold epoxy aerospace parts or polyester tubs and showers, AXEL understands your molding requirements and is ready to provide you with release systems proven to work in your industry. From open molding to advanced composite applications, AXEL offers water and solvent-based semi-permanent mold release systems to fit your specific needs.

Learn more about some of our recent innovations for the composite and advanced composite arenas: