Addex
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersNewark, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Addex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Addex
- Legal name
- Addex Inc.
- Website
- https://addexinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Addex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plastics Extrusion Equipment
- NAICS
- Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)
- SIC
- Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial & Protective Film Extrusion (Masking, Surface Protection, Barrier Films) (IMANACAD)
Keywords
Where Addex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newark
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Addex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales - Air Rings and Cooling Systems: Primary revenue stream from selling proprietary cooling equipment including Intensive Cooling air rings, EGC, MGC, DIBC systems, and Short Stack units. Equipment sold as retrofits for existing lines or OEM components for new equipment. Revenue recognition on equipment delivery with installation services potentially bundled.
- Licensing Royalties: Exclusive licensing agreement with Windmoeller & Hoelscher for Intensive Cooling technology in OEM equipment. Generates ongoing royalty revenue while Addex retains retrofit market rights in North America.
- Professional Services: Field service including start-up assistance, operator training, repairs, and technical consulting. Remote service support for troubleshooting. Installation services for retrofits typically completed in 2 days.
- Spare Parts: Ongoing replacement parts supply for equipment sold over the company's history. Supports legacy products including dies and oscillating haul-offs by special customer request.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Addex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Addex designs, manufactures, and services patented cooling and gauge control equipment for the plastics blown film extrusion industry. Its flagship Intensive Cooling air rings, External Gauge Control (EGC), Manual Gauge Control (MGC), Digital Internal Bubble Cooling (DIBC), and integrated systems such as the Cooling and Stabilization System (CSS) are sold as retrofits to existing blown film lines and licensed to OEMs for new equipment.
Product overview
Addex Inc. is a leading global supplier of high-performance blown film cooling equipment based in Newark, NY. The company's product portfolio centers on its proprietary Intensive Cooling Technology, a core patented technology that dramatically increases output and bubble stability in blown film extrusion. This technology is integrated across multiple product lines including air rings (External Gauge Control/EGC, Manual Gauge Control/MGC, and Laminar Flow/LFR), Internal Bubble Cooling systems (Digital IBC), and the Short Stack and Twin-Stack cooling configurations. Addex offers both standard and Intensive Cooling-compatible versions of its air rings, enabling processors to achieve 10-60% output increases depending on configuration. The company also provides integrated systems like the Cooling and Stabilization System (CSS) that combines Intensive Cooling with digital controls, bubble cages, and gauge control. Addex's products are sold primarily as retrofits for existing blown film lines and are designed for easy integration on both OEM and retrofit basis. The company holds numerous U.S. patents across its technology portfolio including Intensive Cooling air rings, gauge controls, IBC systems, dies, and haul-off technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Intensive Cooling Technology (ICE) Patented cooling technology for blown film extrusion lines that changes air ring aerodynamics with stackable high-velocity cooling elements to dramatically increase throughput and bubble stability. Mounted between the die and air ring, it delivers output increases of 30-60% with enhanced bubble stability for high-quality film.
- Intensive Cooling Short Stack Enclosed two-level stacked Intensive Cooling system positioned directly under the air ring, sitting flat on the die with three locking points for enhanced stability. Guaranteed 20-30% output increase over the original Intensive Cooling DoD version and 15-20% guaranteed gains for low-melt-strength materials.
- Intensive Cooling Twin-Stack Height-adjustable two-level stacked Intensive Cooling system with a lower element mounted flat to the die and a second height-adjustable element below the air ring. Elements can be separated over a range of 1 to 16 inches for tuned cooling performance.
- Digital Internal Bubble Cooling (DIBC) 100% digital internal bubble cooling control system using patented split ultrasonic sensors to react to bubble size changes, paired with a high-speed servo reaction control valve. Provides the fastest reaction time in the industry for tightest possible layflat control and is highly reliable in tough plant environments.
- External Gauge Control (EGC) Automatic external gauge control system that reduces film thickness variation by over 50%. Features 108-252 control zones (depending on air ring size) with sliding teeth that adjust air flow through radially located vanes, addressing thickness variations that other systems cannot.
- EGC Gen 3 for Rotating Dies Third-generation EGC auto-profile system designed specifically for blown film lines with rotating or oscillating dies. Uses a proprietary mapping algorithm that corrects for die rotation in real time and controls both air ring and die rotation simultaneously to deliver ±1 degree mapping accuracy.
- Manual Gauge Control (MGC) Economical manual gauge control air ring with 100-304 individually adjustable control bolts (depending on die size) that reduces film thickness variations by 20-30%. Requires only average operator skills and offers selective correction of gauge deviation at a fraction of automatic system cost.
- Laminar Flow Air Ring (LFR) Addex's standard dual-flow air ring offered without gauge adjustment, which has become an industry standard worldwide for ensuring the highest possible output in blown film extrusion.
- Single Inlet Plenum (SIP) Patent-pending dual-counterflow plenum design introduced in 2024 for rotating or stationary die systems. Matches or exceeds the performance of Addex's multi-inlet plenum while reducing hose count from eight or more down to a single hose.
- Cooling and Stabilization System (CSS) Integrated blown film cooling and stabilization system that combines Addex's Intensive Cooling systems and digital controls with Pearl's mechanical bubble cage. Controls the entire cooling process on one screen with Operator-Assist technology for automatic operation and consistent bubble diameter control.
- Internal Gauge Control (IGC) Patented internal-to-bubble gauge control system introduced in 1995 with resolution in excess of 360 zones and advanced measurement capability, providing the best resolution in the industry within 1 degree.
- REDI Die Patented side-fed, stackable extrusion die introduced in 2001 that uses the concept of regular division of the plane to interlace flows of polymer. Modular and streamlined design suited for processing difficult-to-run materials.
- Gauge Band Randomizer (GBR) Patented horizontal oscillating haul-off introduced in 1994 with anti-web wander and anti-camber features that were industry firsts. Extended to vertical operation in 2009 with patented equal-and-opposite film accumulation to eliminate line speed variation.
- Vertical Oscillating Haul-off Patented vertical oscillating haul-off system using equal and opposite accumulation of film to eliminate line speed variation common to vertical haul-off designs.
- Addex Winder Patented winding system for blown film lines (U.S. Pat. No. 7,341,217).
- Addex Air Shroud Air shroud technology for blown film cooling applications (U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,329).
- Induction Flow Cooling Cooling technology protected under U.S. Pat. No. 11,458,666, representing Addex's patented induction flow approach to blown film cooling.
Quantifiable outcome
- Output increases of 30-60% with Intensive Cooling systems
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Addex
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Addex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Addex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.
- Pearl TechnologiesstrategicPartnership to create integrated Cooling and Stabilization System (CSS). Pearl provides mechanical bubble cage (Dcage) with proprietary SM24 ultra-low coefficient friction hard-coat surface. Addex provides digital controls and Operator-Assist technology. Combined system offers 'smart' bubble cage for automatic control with smooth, consistent bubble diameter control.
- Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H)coreExclusive global licensing agreement grants W&H rights to incorporate Addex's patented Intensive Cooling technology into cooling systems for blown film extrusion lines. W&H offers technology as option for Varex II and Optimex II lines. Addex retains North American retrofit market rights. Deal represents Addex's succession planning and ensures technology continuation globally.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Addex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kuhne Group: German manufacturer of blown film and flat film extrusion lines with proprietary cooling and gauge-control subsystems. Comparable as a direct mid-sized OEM peer that supplies complete film lines including integrated air-ring technology to similar blown film processor customers.
- Jinming Machinery: Chinese blown film and printing machinery manufacturer with significant domestic and emerging-market share. Comparable as a direct global peer supplying integrated blown film lines including proprietary cooling subsystems, addressing the same downstream film processor customers.
- SML Maschinengesellschaft: Austrian manufacturer of cast film, blown film, and extrusion coating lines serving flexible packaging converters. Comparable as a direct mid-sized OEM peer that integrates its own air-ring and gauge-control subsystems into film lines targeting overlapping processor customer segments.
- Colines: Italian manufacturer of cast and blown film extrusion lines for packaging applications with proprietary air-ring and cooling technology. Comparable as a direct European OEM peer that ships integrated cooling subsystems with new lines, competing for both OEM and retrofit opportunities.
- Macro Engineering & Technology: Canadian manufacturer of blown film, cast film, and stretch film extrusion lines. Comparable as a North American-based blown film equipment OEM serving similar processor segments with proprietary cooling technology that overlaps Addex's installed-base retrofit and OEM channels.
- Hosokawa Alpine: German manufacturer of blown film and mono-/multilayer film extrusion lines serving packaging and specialty film markets. Comparable as a direct competitor that designs and ships its own air-ring and cooling technology with new lines, overlapping with Addex's processor-targeted retrofit and OEM offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Reifenhäuser Group: German family-owned blown film and nonwoven extrusion line manufacturer with a global installed base. Comparable as a competing OEM that develops proprietary cooling and gauge-control subsystems for new film lines, addressing the same blown film processor customer set as Addex.
- Brückner Maschinenbau: German manufacturer of film stretching lines (BOPP, BOPET, BOPA) and related film production technology. Comparable as a major film-line OEM with proprietary cooling and process control subsystems addressing overlapping blown and cast film customer segments globally.
- Windmöller & Hölscher: German global leader in blown film and flexible packaging extrusion lines and Addex's parent since August 2025. Comparable as the largest customer/licensee of Addex's Intensive Cooling technology and a direct competitor in air-ring subsystems integrated into its Varex II and Optimex II OEM platforms.
- Davis-Standard: US-headquartered extrusion and converting equipment manufacturer serving packaging, film, and industrial markets. Comparable as a broad-line extrusion equipment supplier whose blown film lines compete with Addex-served processor customers for new line and retrofit capex dollars.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Addex social profiles
Digital presenceAddex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Addex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Addex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Addex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Addex
What does Addex do?
Addex designs, manufactures, and services patented cooling and gauge control equipment for the plastics blown film extrusion industry. Its flagship Intensive Cooling air rings, External Gauge Control (EGC), Manual Gauge Control (MGC), Digital Internal Bubble Cooling (DIBC), and integrated systems such as the Cooling and Stabilization System (CSS) are sold as retrofits to existing blown film lines and licensed to OEMs for new equipment.
Is Addex a public or private company?
Addex is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Addex founded?
Addex was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Addex based?
Addex is headquartered in Newark, United States, in the North America region.
How does Addex make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales - Air Rings and Cooling Systems are the primary driver. The others are licensing Royalties, professional Services and spare Parts.
Who are Addex's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kuhne Group, Jinming Machinery, SML Maschinengesellschaft, Colines, Macro Engineering & Technology and Hosokawa Alpine. Broad incumbents are Reifenhäuser Group, Brückner Maschinenbau, Windmöller & Hölscher and Davis-Standard.
Does Addex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Addex.
What industry is Addex in?
Addex's product category is Plastics Extrusion Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANACAD, Industrial & Protective Film Extrusion (Masking, Surface Protection, Barrier Films). Its NAICS code is 333413 and its SIC code is 3081.