AX Materials

What AX Materials does

AX Materials, a division of Matmarket LLC, is a B2B materials technology company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The company engineers and supplies synthetic glove materials — suedes, grains, and textiles — designed exclusively for glove applications rather than adapted from footwear or apparel feedstocks. Its portfolio of 70+ specialized materials addresses abrasion, cut, fire, cold-weather, grip, and touchscreen performance, with proprietary families including AX Rivolta (versatile all-condition), AX SubZero (TPEE cold-weather coating to -30°C), AX 10W (maximum abrasion), AX G-Series (wet/oily grip), and recycled-content lines (AX Cinco RPET, AX Fit RPET, AX Vida RPET). Two patent-pending technologies — AX Cutora™ (HPPE-based cut resistance achieving ANSI A6 / EN388 F) and AX Medora™ FR (PFC-free inherent flame resistance at EN407 Level 4) — anchor the high-performance book, while InstaChill™ xylitol cooling and AX Connect touchscreen conductivity are cross-deployable features.

The company sells materials directly to glove manufacturers and brands under quote-based, multi-year contracts, with regional sales representatives in North America, Europe, Korea, China, and Vietnam. Manufacturing is distributed across Korea, China, and Vietnam, with operational and finance support in Hong Kong. Over 250 brand partners and 100+ glove factory customers collectively use AX Materials across work/industrial, winter sports, action sports/cycling, fire safety, tactical, motorcycle, oil and gas, and recreational end markets — evidenced by named deployments with Mechanix Wear, The North Face, Black Diamond, Giro, Youngstown, Dakine, Auclair, Ironclad, Icon, and others, and cumulative production volumes exceeding 1M+ gloves annually, 5M+ pairs by the Novo Series, 8M+ AX 10W gloves in field, and 10M+ hang tags at retail. Certifications (OEKO-TEX Standard 100, RCS, GRS, bluesign, PFC-free) and HIGG MSI-documented sustainability advantages versus cow leather (3x lower global warming potential, 14x less water use) are core commercial assets.

Name

AX Materials

Legal name

Matmarket LLC

Website

https://axmaterials.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AX Materials (a division of Matmarket LLC) engineers and supplies synthetic suedes, grains, and textiles specifically designed for glove applications, selling its 70+ material portfolio under B2B multi-year contracts to 250+ brand partners and 100+ glove factories across work, tactical, sports, and outdoor markets globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical Textile Materials

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports & Outdoor Accessories Manufacturing (Performance Gloves/Headwear) (IMAOAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH)

Keywords

• Synthetic glove materials
• Technical textile manufacturing
• Leather alternative materials
• Cut resistant fabrics
• Recycled polyester materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Materials Sales to Glove Manufacturers: AX Materials generates revenue by selling engineered glove materials (suedes, grains, textiles) directly to glove manufacturers and brands. The company supplies palm materials, cut-resistant layers, and specialized coatings for incorporation into finished glove products. Pricing appears to be quote-based with material orders including complementary hang tags for brand partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AX Materials engineers and manufactures synthetic glove materials, including suedes, grains, and textiles, sold directly to glove manufacturers and brands. The portfolio spans over 70 specialized materials with performance features such as cut resistance (AX Cutora), fire resistance (AX Medora FR), cold weather durability (AX SubZero), touchscreen compatibility (AX Connect), and recycled content (AX Cinco RPET, AX Fit RPET). Materials are third-party tested to ANSI and EN388 standards and supplied as roll goods incorporated into finished glove products.

Product overview

AX Materials is a materials technology company that offers a portfolio of over 60 specialized synthetic materials specifically engineered for gloves. The product portfolio is organized as a Protective Tech Portfolio featuring materials across multiple categories: suedes (grain leather alternatives), textiles, and performance coatings. Key product lines include: AX Rivolta (versatile all-condition material), AX SubZero (cold weather TPEE coating), AX Cutora™ (cut-resistant HPPE technology), AX Medora™ FR (fire-resistant material), AX 10W (high-abrasion suede), AX G-Series (grip material for oil/gas), and recycled alternatives like AX Cinco RPET, AX Fit RPET, and AX Vida RPET. Supporting technologies include AX Connect (touchscreen compatibility) and InstaChill™ (cooling treatment). Materials undergo third-party EN388 and ANSI testing and are sold to 250+ brand partners for use in work, tactical, moto, outdoor, skiing, cycling, and other glove applications. The company operates as a B2B materials supplier rather than a consumer product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AX Rivolta Versatile all-condition glove material engineered for any industry, offering long-lasting durability, comfort, and superior nubuck grip. Available with touchscreen compatibility, recycled content options, and PFC-free water resistance.
• AX SubZero Advanced TPEE rubber coating material designed for cold weather durability, grip, and water resistance, withstanding temperatures as low as -30°C/-22°F without cracking or peeling, and 30,000+ cold crack cycles.
• AX Cutora
• AX Medora FR Inherently flame-resistant synthetic grain material combining organic cotton base, bio-based polyurethane, and proprietary PFC-free FR chemistry, achieving EN407 Level 4 for afterflame and afterglow times at 0.75mm thickness.
• AX 10W
• AX G-Series Grain material engineered for superior grip in wet, oily, and dry environments, featuring EN388 Level 3 abrasion, Level 2 tear, and ANSI Level 4 abrasion ratings. Available with AX Connect touchscreen compatibility.
• AX Cinco RPET Ultra-thin, breathable recycled palm suede with moisture-wicking and durable performance. Made from post-consumer water bottles with 0% polyurethane content for superior breathability.
• AX Fit RPET
• AX Vida RPET
• AX GripPlus RPET
• AX Res-Q
• AX Laredo
• AX Hide
• AX Novo Series
• AX Bolt

Quantifiable outcome

• AX leather alternatives offer ANSI Abrasion Level 4-5 vs goat leather Level 5 and cow grain leather Level 3
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Textile ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) and GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification of recycled materials. AX Materials uses Textile Exchange certifications to verify recycled content in their materials sourced from post-consumer water bottles and upcycled fishing nets.
• OEKO-TEX AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent testing and certification partnership ensuring materials meet OEKO-TEX Standard 100 requirements for harmful substance limits including azo colorants, PFAS/PFCs, cadmium, and lead.
• bluesign TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater-based manufacturing processes meet bluesign requirements (<50ppm DMFa) for reduced environmental impact certification.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Asahi Kasei: Asahi Kasei is a large Japanese chemicals and materials conglomerate whose Lamous and Leona synthetic suedes/leathers overlap with AX Materials' glove-palm applications. A broader incumbent with deeper R&D and capital base.
• Honeywell Spectra: Honeywell's Spectra is a high-performance HPPE fiber used in cut- and abrasion-resistant gloves and body armor. Competes with AX Cutora's HPPE platform at the fiber-input layer and serves the same cut-resistance end market.

Direct peers

• Kolon Industries: Kolon Industries' Nabucco and Kolon synthetic leather lines supply automotive, apparel, and glove markets across Asia. Comparable to AX Materials as an Asian-based synthetic leather/textile producer with similar glove and industrial end-uses.
• Ultrafabrics: Ultrafabrics produces high-performance PU-based synthetic leather (Ultraleather, Brisa, Volar) for upholstery, automotive, and apparel/glove applications. Direct competitor in the engineered leather-alternative category with comparable B2B, branded-end-customer model.
• Toray Industries: Toray's Ultrasuede and Enterlux ultra-microfiber suedes are flagship synthetic leather alternatives used in apparel and glove palm applications. Highly comparable to AX Materials in chemistry, customer base (premium brands), and B2B sales motion.
• San Fang Chemical Industry: San Fang Chemical (SCIII / SINGTEX) is a Taiwan-headquartered PU and microfiber synthetic leather producer supplying footwear, apparel, and glove manufacturers worldwide. Directly comparable to AX Materials in process, product form factor, and global glove-industry customers.
• Kuraray: Kuraray's Clarino brand is one of the most established microfiber synthetic suedes and grain leathers globally, widely specified into athletic, work, and outdoor gloves. Directly comparable to AX Materials as a B2B engineered-material supplier serving glove manufacturers and brands.
• Teijin Cordley / Ultrasuede: Teijin's Cordley artificial leather and Ultrasuede microfiber suede are widely used in sports, fashion, and glove applications. Competes head-to-head with AX Suede/Rivolta in the suede and grain-leather-alternative category for premium gloves.

Regional players

• Pittards: Pittards is a UK-based specialty leather manufacturer with deep penetration into the premium glove market (ski, motorsport, equestrian, tactical). Relevant peer because AX Materials explicitly positions its synthetics as leather alternatives in the same premium-glove categories Pittards serves.

Emerging players

• DSM Dyneema: DSM's Dyneema is the leading UHMWPE/HPPE fiber used in cut-resistant gloves, overlapping with AX Cutora's HPPE-based palm-suede architecture. Comparable as a material-science input supplier entering the same high-performance cut-resistance category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AXMaterials
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ax-materials
• Instagraminstagram.com/axmaterials

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AX Materials