Page 14 from: Recycling International February issue | 2021

Steinert shares know-how on
digitalisation of the recycling industry
Steinert’s new sorting robot
delivers the highest purities
Data is the key to previously
unresolvable challenges in the
recycling industry. However, for
some companies, it is often just
an unused resource. 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 spec-
tral 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 compo-
nent is built into the machines of the EVO 5.0
generation and customers benefit from the fol-
lowing 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 improve-
ments without personnel on site
• Robot-based quality control
ONLINE SEMINAR
On 26 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 cus-
tomers. You can register at www.steinertglob-
al.com.
1. Intelligent Plant Commissioning
Commissioning times are cut while staff man-
agement 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 circum-
stances at all times and remains stable in the
face of environmental factors.
2. Intelligent Condition Monitoring
Sorting facilities are permanently and centrally
monitored, enabling incidents to be detected
early on to cut downtimes and to improve sys-
tem performance.
3. Intelligent Remote Monitoring
Cuts the time taken to respond to problems
thanks to mobile status monitoring and pro-
vides opportunities for service experts to inter-
vene. This ensures a flexible response and
improves the reliability of the entire system.
4. Intelligent Object Identifier
AI-supported program for sorting materials
that could not previously be separated and
also to resolve complicated sorting requir-
ments. This simultaneously guarantees a more
constant sorting performance and improved
outcomes.
5. Intelligent Remote Update
Allows improvements or even totally new func-
tions to be deployed remotely and ensures
sorting facilities are equipped for future
requirements without staff having to be pres-
ent on site.
6. 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 pric-
ing as well as a response to legal or customer-
specific requirements.
14-15_steinert.indd 14 02-02-21 11:32