Axion secures fifth order from Europe for Ecotrax rail ties via partner Sicut Enterprises, CEO says progress is being driven by pending creosote ban, railway operators' perception that quality of hardwood used for ties has declined in last 30-40 years

Wendy Lisney

ZANESVILLE, Ohio , July 1, 2014 (press release) – AXION International Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: AXIH), a leader in recycled plastic and plastic composite technologies used to produce ECOTRAX(R) rail ties/sleepers and STRUXURE(R) building products, and a vertically integrated re-processor and supplier of recycled plastic, today announced that it has received its fifth purchase order for ECOTRAX(R) rail ties to be shipped to Europe.

The purchase orders received to date are a result of a successful lab testing leading to in-track trials across various applications. ECOTRAX Rail Sleepers have been installed in the following applications for in track testing applications mainline, switch, curve, and tunnel sleepers that have performed well and the Company anticipates receiving repeat and new orders due to the positive feedback received from customers. ECOTRAX(R) rail ties have been installed in varying conditions from coastal areas to inland, and under heavy and light traffic loads.

"Europe represents a pipeline of significant opportunities for AXION and this order demonstrates our continued penetration into the market. Sicut Enterprises Ltd., our European partner, has made progress over the past year as a result of two main drivers. First, the merits of our technology have been recognized for its quality and performance. Second, there are fundamental factors regarding hardwood that have led to Europe's increased market demand for composites. In discussion with numerous railways in the European market, it has become apparent that the quality of hardwood used for rail ties has steadily decreased, forcing companies to replace hardwood sleepers more often, adding greatly to time and cost of operations. The quality of hardwood is not the same as it was 30-40 years ago and there are growing concerns that consistency of supply cannot be met. In addition, the pending European creosote ban in 2018 and the difficulty of obtaining quality timber are reasons why the use of hardwood is starting to lose its appeal. We expect more railways to take note and conduct testing and trials," said Steve Silverman, President and CEO of AXION.

AXION currently sells its ECOTRAX(R) rail ties/sleepers to multiple domestic and international transit and freight railroads including a domestic class 1 contract and a trial with a second class 1.

About AXION International Holdings, Inc.

AXION (OTCQB: AXIH) is a green technology company, transforming waste plastics into structural building materials. Using 100%-recycled consumer and industrial plastics, AXION develops, markets and sells its recycled structural composite products through its ECOTRAX(R) composite rail tie and STRUXURE(R) building material lines. AXION's wholly owned subsidiary, AXION Recycled Plastics (ARPI) recycles post-consumer and post-industrial plastics. As a complete plastics recovery operation, ARPI sorts, grinds, washes, blends, and pelletizes plastic for future use, offering economic benefits to its customers, while keeping waste out of landfills. In addition, it offers toll recycling services. ARPI will continue to serve regional customers from its Zanesville, Ohio facility, and establish and grow the recycling capabilities at the Company's Waco, Texas facility to serve new customers in Texas and surrounding states, as well as provide raw materials internally for the Company to produce ECOTRAX(R) and STRUXURE(R). From the railroading industry to the military to global engineering firms, AXION delivers tested, proven and superior green solutions to infrastructure needs around the world.

www.AXIH.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause AXION's actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, including the availability of materials at favorable pricing, sufficient manufacturing capability and the risk factors identified in AXION's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE AXION International Holdings, Inc.

/CONTACT: AXION Investor and Media Relations - Andrew Haag, Managing Partner, IRTH Communications, axih@irthcommunications.com, 1-866-976-4784

/Web site: http://www.axionintl.com 

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