With a legacy of over 30 years, the company has mastered transforming recycled plastics into high-quality products, proving that sustainability and success go hand in hand. Westlake Dimex diverts millions of pounds of waste from landfills every year and turns it into products for landscape and marine dock edging, industrial matting and masonry control joints.
“The biggest challenge in the industry is that not all scrap streams or materials are created equal. This makes identifying the right partners, streams and materials to incorporate into a recycled compound or product difficult. At Westlake Dimex, we use our extensive experience and internal know-how to successfully navigate thesecomplexities and deliver effective solutions,” says Andy Antil, general manager.
A Conscious Manufacturing Mindset to Recycling
Westlake Dimex optimizes the process of identifying and capitalizing on best-suited waste streams. Its meticulous approach spans a wide network of scrap suppliers vetted for their ability to provide quality materials in high quantities. The recyclables then undergo a proprietary process of grinding, blending and reprocessing before they are used internally or supplied to other manufacturers.
As a manufacturer responsibly using recycled compounds to create commercial and consumer products since 1991, Westlake Dimex is a trailblazer.
“When we first entered the market, there were few companies reprocessing materials as we did. We were pioneers,” Antil says. “Over the years, the market has evolved significantly, and we have gathered invaluable lessons through various ups and downs. Initially serving our own internal needs ultimately led us to develop proprietary methods to enhance our processes, which we could expand to our services for our compound clients.”
Today, the company’s well-honed expertise allows it to offer high-quality, reliable solutions to a diverse clientele. Unlike competitors who merely reprocess scrap into pellets, Westlake Dimex rigorously tests compounds to ensure superior product deployments. This unique approach provides a competitive edge that benefits clients by delivering proven, high-performance recycled materials.
“Our internal manufacturing operations make us our own biggest client. We always understand what works and what doesn’t with this distinct perspective,” says Chris Lynn, director of compounds, North America.
To ensure superior quality and consistency in the materials it recycles, Westlake Dimex uses multiple proprietary processes based on recycling post-industrial materials. When envisioning new additions to its portfolio, the company seeks recycled materials first, instead of defaulting to prime or virgin compounds. Prime compounds are used only when the nature of the product to be manufactured makes recycling unfeasible.
2023 marked a significant milestone as Westlake Dimex began working with GreenCircle Certified. This trusted third-party certification organization enabled the company to obtain certification for its recycled content and distinguish between post-consumer and post-industrial sources. In essence, GreenCircle Certified’s rigorous verification process ensures environmental claims are backed by independent scrutiny, instilling confidence in Westlake Dimex and those who use its compounds while bringing clarity and transparency to internal practices.
At Westlake Dimex, We Use Our Extensive Experience and Internal Know-How To Successfully Navigate These Complexities And Deliver Effective Solutions
Westlake Dimex also possesses unparalleled expertise in sourcing and tracking the right ingredients for its products. As part of Westlake Corporation, it has access to actionable data on the physical properties of recycled compounds. This vast knowledge base allows Westlake Dimex to maximize material use across various applications while ensuring optimal performance and quality. This is impactful when navigating the complexities of the recycling space and addressing the uncertainties surrounding what qualifies as recycled content.
Westlake Dimex stands out for its ability to provide clients with larger batches of materials. While others may offer blends in the 20,000 to 100,000 pounds range, Westlake Dimex’s scalable large batch capabilities enhance efficiency, ensure homogeneity, and can mitigate the inconsistencies often associated with recycled materials.
Ensuring Reliability and Responsibility in Each Step
At the heart of Westlake Dimex’s operation is a robust inventory tracking system. Unlike conventional methods that treat scrap as a black box, it employs a meticulous approach to segregating and tracking materials. Each truckload is carefully sorted, with individual items assigned lot numbers for traceability.
This level of traceability enhances quality control and enables swift problem-solving. In the event of issues with a particular batch, Westlake Dimex can trace it back to its source, facilitating timely resolutions for its clients.
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Our Internal Manufacturing Operations Make Us Our Own Biggest Client. We Always Understand What Works and What Doesn’t With This Distinct Perspective
The company’s in-house quality team is pivotal in optimizing material use. It offers troubleshooting services for extrusion or injection molding operations and tailors solutions to suit individual manufacturing needs. Once the ideal operating parameters are identified, consistency is maintained throughout production cycles. The products Westlake Dimex manufactures from their own recycled materials serve as a proving ground, ensuring the efficacy and quality of the compounds. This excellence is woven into every aspect of the company’s operations to boost continuous improvement and redefine industry standards.
Embracing Forward-Looking Recycling Approaches
Westlake Dimex is expanding its range of post-industrial recycled (PIR) produced materials and products with a newfound enthusiasm for delving into post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. The company aims to make significant strides in this market segment in the coming years by incorporating materials sourced directly from end users, broadening its portfolio beyond manufacturer-derived inputs.
Recognizing the importance of ensuring a consistent supply chain, Westlake Dimex has diligently laid the groundwork for this expansion. This entails carefully vetting materials and cultivating partnerships to guarantee reliability and quality assurance. As these efforts come to fruition, it anticipates a heightened presence in the marketplace, with a renewed emphasis on PIR and PCR. At the same time, the company offers toll-processing services to those seeking to recycle their scrap but lack the necessary infrastructure.
Driven by the industry’s growing emphasis on recycled content and responsible manufacturing, Westlake Dimex looks forward to collaborating with peers to increase the adoption of recycled materials and create a circular economy.
