Steinert shares know-how on digitalisation of the recycling industry

Data is the key to previously unresolvable challenges in the recycling industry. However, for some companies, it is often just an unused resource.

That’s why Steinert is presenting its experience and developments in the digitalisation of the recycling industry in an online seminar to provide insight into how important data has proved to be at Europe’s largest sorting plant for lightweight packaging. Participation in the event, “Intelligent Digital Solutions for Waste Recycling”, is free of charge and registration is now open.

In 2011, the first hyperspectral imaging (HSI) camera replaced the point-to-point scanners previously used as standard in the Steinert UniSort PR, paving the way for data-based sorting solutions. This HSI camera has a spatial and spectral resolution of 28 million pixels, a five thousand-fold improvement, and forms the basis of Steinert’s networked solutions, providing new opportunities in the fight against the scarcity of resources.

With the accumulated experience from four UniSort generations, a system has been developed to fully process this data. Every necessary component is built into the machines of the EVO 5.0 generation and customers benefit from the following advantages:

• Much reduced commissioning time
• Easier monitoring of the sorting facility
• A mobile monitoring system that shortens response times in the event of malfunctions
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) to sort previously inseparable materials
• Remote-controlled deployment of improvements without personnel on site
• Robot-based quality control

Online seminar topics

On 24 February 2021, Hendrik Beel, managing director of Steinert UniSort, will be explaining this topic during the online seminar. Using practical examples, he will demonstrate how Steinert has developed solutions with its customers for highly efficient sorting facilities. The seminar will take place in English at 09:00 CET and in German at 11:00 CET. Register here for free!

Web application: Digital solutions available at all times

In the meantime, information is also available via a web application. Here, six solutions are presented graphically they are briefly explained here:

• Intelligent Plant Commissioning
  Commissioning times are cut while staff management is optimised, enabling the operation of sorting facilities boasting more than 50 near-infrared (NIR) sorters. By calibrating machines using a central spectral database, the entire system is adapted to local circumstances at all times and remains stable in the face of environmental factors.

• Intelligent Condition Monitoring

Sorting facilities are permanently and centrally monitored, enabling incidents to be detected early on to cut downtimes and to improve system performance.

• Intelligent Remote Monitoring

Cuts the time taken to respond to problems thanks to mobile status monitoring and provides opportunities for service experts to intervene. This ensures a flexible response and improves the reliability of the entire system.

• Intelligent Object Identifier

AI-supported program for sorting materials that could not previously be separated and also to resolve complicated sorting requirments. This simultaneously guarantees a more constant sorting performance and improved outcomes.

• Intelligent Remote Update

Allows improvements or even totally new functions to be deployed remotely and ensures sorting facilities are equipped for future requirements without staff having to be present on site.

• Intelligent Quality Control

Robot-based quality check for automated assessment and checking of material qualities for processing using, for example, UniSort Unibot. This enables accurate and flexible pricing as well as a response to legal or customer-specific requirements.