Manufacturing of recycling boards from mixed plastic waste and development of modular lightweight construction systems
BOXS AG
Buchs AG · GretzenbachNew on Amplifa
About BOXS AG
BOXS AG is a Swiss company founded in 2016, headquartered in Buchs AG with production in Gretzenbach. Its core competence is the manufacture of versatile recycling boards from mixed plastic waste, which are produced and distributed via the subsidiary UpBoards GmbH (founded 2019). The basis is a proprietary manufacturing process that was further developed in R&D collaborations with the Institute of Polymer Technology (IKT) at FHNW, the Hightech-Zentrum Aargau (HTZ) and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences (HSLU). Two Innosuisse projects (2020–2022 and 2023–2024) addressed, among other things, formulations, mechanical properties such as stiffness, longitudinal expansion and density, as well as the optimization of foam homogeneity and odor emissions. In addition to the boards, BOXS develops the modular lightweight construction system BOXS Light made from recycled plastic boards, which was tested in a field trial in Jordan in 2019. The company also supports national and international organizations in establishing circular economy initiatives.
- Site
- Buchs, Schweiz
- Processes
- Manufacturing of recycling boards from mixed plastic waste (proprietary manufacturing process), Development of formulations for recycling boards (with IKT FHNW), Lightweight construction system BOXS Light made from recycled plastic boards (modular building, Analysis of mechanical properties (stiffness, longitudinal expansion, density, foam homogeneity,, Manufacturing of recycling boards from mixed plastic waste (UpBoards), Development of lightweight construction systems from recycled plastic boards (BOXS Light), Support for organizations in establishing circular economy initiatives, R&D collaborations with research institutes (IKT FHNW, HTZ Aargau, HSLU)
- Materials
- Mixed plastic waste (recycled), Recycling boards made from 100% recycled plastic waste, Sandwich board made from mixed plastic
- Founded
- 2016
- Industries
- Construction / Building materials (facades, lightweight construction systems), Recycling / Circular economy, Plastics processing
- 01
Collection of mixed plastic waste
- 02
Processing and formulation development (with IKT FHNW)
- 03
Manufacturing of recycling boards using a proprietary process
- 04
Analysis of mechanical properties (stiffness, longitudinal expansion, density)
- 05
Distribution via UpBoards GmbH
- 06
Application in the BOXS Light lightweight construction system
Materials & Processes
Mixed plastic waste (recycled)
Mixed plastic waste serves as the raw material for the proprietary recycling boards.
Recycling boards made from 100% recycled plastic waste
Versatile boards, manufactured and distributed via UpBoards GmbH.
Sandwich board made from mixed plastic
Award-winning sandwich board (Swiss Plastics Expo Award 2023) as the core product of the board technology.
Sites
Buchs AG
CHHeadquarters / Administration
Gretzenbach
CHProduction site (in cooperation with Recoplast AG)
- Materials
- Mixed plastic waste (recycled)
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing of recycling boards from mixed plastic waste (proprietary manufacturing process)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Mixed plastic waste (recycled), Recycling boards made from 100% recycled plastic waste, Sandwich board |
| Development of formulations for recycling boards (with IKT FHNW)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Mixed plastic |
| Lightweight construction system BOXS Light made from recycled plastic boards (modular buildingAssembly | – | – | – | – | Recycled plastic boards |
| Analysis of mechanical properties (stiffness, longitudinal expansion, density, foam homogeneity,Testing | – | – | – | – | Mixed plastic boards |
Additional services
History
- 2016
Foundation of BOXS AG (5-year anniversary in January 2021)
- 2019
Development of the BOXS Light lightweight construction system together with the Hightech-Zentrum Aargau (HTZ) and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences (HSLU)
- 2019
Foundation of the subsidiary UpBoards GmbH (manufacturing and distribution of recycling boards)
- 2019
First international project: field test of the BOXS Light system in Jordan
- 2020
Feasibility study 'Recycled plastic houses for people in need' presented in the annual report of HTZ Aargau; report in Baublatt on houses made from recycled plastic in Jordan
- 2020
First Innosuisse project grant (October 2020); research with IKT at FHNW over approximately two years on the manufacturing process, formulations and mechanical properties of the recycling boards
- 2021
Lecture by Raphael Markstaller at the International Facade Conference at KKL Lucerne (November 2021)
- 2021
Presentation at the 'Praxiszirkel Kreislaufwirtschaft' (circular economy practice circle) of the Hightech Zentrum Aargau (June 2021)
- 2022
Relocation of the site from Gränichen to Gretzenbach (April 2022), larger premises and cooperation with Recoplast AG
- 2023
Swiss Plastics Expo Award, audience favorite category, for UpBoards (January 2023)
- 2023
Second Innosuisse project (May 2023 to October 2024): optimization of foam homogeneity and reduction of odor emissions of the mixed plastic boards