Page 57 - Plastics News Issue May 2025
P. 57
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
diographs to specifically detect electrical appli- tests at Fraunhofer IIS. The plant is scheduled to
ances that contain lithium-ion batteries.« be delivered to waste disposal company Lobbe
in early June for the first practical tests. The pro-
Sorting is initiated based on the data collected. ject, which is funded by the German Federal Min-
This information enables the control of special istry of Education and Research (BMBF), will run
compressed air valves that separate hazardous until the end of August 2025.
electrical appliances from the waste stream. Air
nozzles measuring around five millimeters re- The prototype system is being developed as
move them from the belt and convey them into part of the AI Application Hub on Plastic Packag-
a separate chamber. The right timing between ing. A total of 51 partners from industry, research
evaluating the radiograph and starting the noz- and society are working closely together in the
zles is crucial for this process. KIOptiPack and K3I-Cycling laboratories. Their
goal is to advance the application of AI methods
It is difficult to detect and isolate different bat- for a resource-efficient circular economy ap-
tery sizes during the separation process, as proach to plastic packaging in Germany.
these can range from ten-kilo e-bike batteries to
button batteries«, Leisner says. Source – RECYCLING magazine
The sorting system is currently still undergoing
Innovation in waste sorting
for Nordic markets
ith advanced technologies, special- Nordic countries are globally recognised as
ised expertise, and tailored solu- leaders in sustainability, with some of the most
Wtions, Stadler supports the region’s advanced waste management and recycling
efforts to achieve its ambitious recycling and cir- systems in the world. However, meeting ever-
cular economy goals. evolving environmental targets, improving ef-
ficiency, and tackling the challenges of cost,
automation, and innovation require continuous
technological advancements.
“The Nordic markets demand solutions that
are not only technologically advanced but also
aligned with their strong environmental ethos,”
Jürgen Berger, Head of International Sales at
Stadler Anlagenbau. “With a strong track record
in the region, we understand the specific needs
of our customers and provide high-quality, fu-
ture-proof solutions that help them maximise
May 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 57
