Sorting UBC with AI | Aluminum Can Recycling | Quality Control | TOMRA

Summary

Aluminum beverage can recycling is revolutionized by GAINnext™, an AI-powered system that automates the sorting process. With a remarkable throughput of 2000 ejections per minute, it achieves over 98% purity without manual intervention. This technology employs deep learning to identify and separate UBC aluminum from other materials, enhancing recycling efficiency and reducing costs, while meeting the escalating demand for recycled aluminum.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The global consumption of aluminum beverage cans is on the rise, with the US producing about 100 billion annually.
• 🔄 Despite high recycling rates for aluminum cans, significant resources are still lost to landfill and incineration.
• 🤖 GAINnext™, an AI-powered system, is transforming the recycling industry by automating the sorting process.
• ⏩ This sorting system can eject up to 2000 items per minute, enhancing operational efficiency significantly.
• 🔝 GAINnext™ achieves over 98% purity in aluminum can recycling, eliminating the need for manual sorting.
• 📈 The AI uses deep learning to identify and remove non-UBC aluminum, as well as other metals and plastics.
• 🚀 The technology is revolutionizing the industry by providing an automated, high-speed alternative to manual sorting.
• 💡 Easy installation allows Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and recyclers to quickly increase value and efficiency.
• ♻️ The solution supports aluminum can-to-can recycling and the creation of recycled content for other products.
• 📈 Plant operators can meet the growing demand for recycled aluminum faster while increasing productivity and reducing costs.

Q & A

How many aluminum beverage cans are produced annually in the United States?

About 100 billion aluminum beverage cans are produced every year in the United States.

What is the issue with the current recycling rates of aluminum cans?

Despite aluminum cans being recycled at higher rates than other materials, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of resources are still lost to landfill and incineration each year.

What was the previous process like for recovering aluminum UBCs from waste streams?

The process of recovering aluminum UBCs from waste streams was labor-intensive and time-consuming before the advent of AI-powered sorting systems.

How does GAINnext™ improve the efficiency of recycling aluminum cans?

GAINnext™ improves efficiency by sorting up to 2000 ejections per minute, which is significantly more than manual sorting, and it can process up to 33 times more throughput.

What is the purity level achieved by GAINnext™ in sorting UBC aluminum?

GAINnext™ achieves above 98% purity in UBC aluminum without the need for hand sorting.

What technologies does GAINnext™ utilize to identify and sort materials?

GAINnext™ uses deep learning technology and object recognition to instantly identify and remove non-UBC aluminum, other metals, and plastics.

How does the AI sorting solution impact the market for aluminum recycling?

The AI sorting solution provides an automated, high-speed process for a task that previously required manual sorting, revolutionizing the industry.

What benefits does GAINnext™ offer to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and recyclers?

GAINnext™ allows MRFs and recyclers to create more value almost overnight with a simple installation, enabling aluminum can-to-can recycling and the creation of recycled content for other products.

How does GAINnext™ help in meeting the demand for recycled aluminum?

GAINnext™ helps meet the increasing demand for recycled aluminum faster by increasing productivity and reducing operational costs for plant operators.

What are the environmental implications of using GAINnext™ for aluminum recycling?

Using GAINnext™ can lead to a more sustainable recycling process by reducing landfill and incineration of aluminum cans, thus conserving resources and minimizing environmental impact.

How does GAINnext™ contribute to the circular economy?

GAINnext™ contributes to the circular economy by enabling the efficient recycling of aluminum cans into new cans and other products, promoting a closed-loop system for aluminum usage.