axantor: The next step for surface technology

Some ideas don't come about suddenly. They grow over years, are constantly refined, and wait for the right moment. That's exactly how it was with axantor.

Roland Bönsch launched an online shop for sandblasting technology back in 2004. At the time, this was a bold move – and early proof that even specialized technical products can be successfully made digitally visible and available.

Over the years, this experience led to a new idea: If online commerce works in sandblasting technology, why shouldn't the next digital step be possible? An industry platform for surface technology that centrally brings together suppliers, products, and solutions.

“For me, it was a logical step that we, as the first online shop in the industry, should also take this next step ,” Roland Bönsch describes his motivation.

The idea had been pursued for years. But as is so often the case with large digital projects, the financial and organizational hurdles were too high for a long time to move directly into implementation.

The decisive impetus finally came from a webinar by brickfox on the topic of marketplaces. Initial interest quickly turned into concrete discussions. Once the framework was clarified, Roland Bönsch knew: Now is the right time.

For brickfox, axantor is also a prime example of how specialized companies can use digital opportunities to actively shape their industry.

“The example of axantor shows how companies in individual industries are setting out to occupy their niche. For us, this is a prime example of the hidden champions of tomorrow,” says Dietmar Hölscher of brickfox.

With axantor, a new digital concept for surface technology will be developed step by step. brickfox is supporting this project as a partner, providing technical and strategic assistance in bringing the idea to fruition.

This is the first step in a development that we will continue to support in the coming months. From the initial idea and planning to implementation, we want to demonstrate how a long-standing vision can become a concrete digital project.