Page 24 from: Recycling International February issue | 2021

Modern technology
with a latin design flair

Zato Recycling Solutions’

headquarters and factory is in

the heart of northern Italy, close

to the shores of Lake Garda.

Established in 1998, it is a

relatively young company

employing around 40 staff, each

with a typical Italian passion for

design and functionality. The

4 000 square metre factory is

situated on an 11 000 square

metre site.

‘When we started the company, we already
had a global vision to design and manufacture
the best performing recycling machinery, not
only for our Italian customers but also for the
global market,’ explains Zato’s ceo Alessandra
Bresciani. ‘Our founders already had great
experience in the metal recycling market and,
consequently, knew very well the requirements
of yard managers and how scrap had to be
processed to get the most out of it.
Combining the best available technologies
with our special know-how and original ideas,
led Zato to develop superbly functional and
reliable equipment that has some of the best
ROI values in the industry.’

SMART GLASSES
Zato’s international presence took off from the
start and today accounts for over 80% of turn-
over. ‘We insist on having decent spare part
availability and reliable service back up in
every country in which we are actively selling,’
says marketing manager Luigi Cominetti. ‘Our
relationship with customers does not stop
after the sale: it is only just beginning.’
The company was among the first manufactur-
ers to offer remote servicing and in 2020
upped its own game by offering artificial intel-
ligence, smart glasses and augmented reality

to customers and the service team.
‘Our service technicians wear smart glasses
with integrated video cameras, microphones
and speakers,’ says Cominetti. ‘Now, when a
service technician is on site and wearing the
smart glasses we can actively see what he or
she is repairing. Our engineers at head office
can send useful and relevant information
directly to them in real time using the display
integrated in their glasses. We can also talk
them throughout.’

AS LONG AS THERE’S A CONNECTION
The new smart glasses are a real revolution.
‘No need to wait for a technician to drive or fly
in from afar before a repair can take place,’
says Cominetti. ‘The yard’s technician can sim-
ply put on the smart glasses and be talked
through the required repair or service proce-
dure step by step by our own experienced
engineers. As long as they have a stable inter-
net connection, it doesn’t matter if they are in
the Peruvian rainforest or on the edges of the
Iraqi desert.’

MAKING WAVES ACROSS THE GLOBE
In 2020 Zato sold its fifth Blue Devil to a cus-
tomer in eastern Australia and Australians in
particular have come to appreciate the rela-

tively low initial investment and total running
cost of a Blue Devil when compared to a ham-
mer mill. No foundations are required, the
rotary shear operates autonomously without
an external operator and operating costs are
considerably lower. Zato also pre manufactures
Blue Devils which means, in many cases, com-
panies can have one up and running around
two months after ordering.
The reality of the current situation is that collect-
ed scrap is getting lighter and this trend is set to
continue. Processing light to medium gauge
scrap in a hammer mill has a relatively high cost
per tonne. Doing the same job with a shear baler
is less expensive than using a hammer mill but

Another Blue Devil is being prepared for shipment.Inside the production hall.Zato’s service technicians wear smart glasses with integrated video cameras, microphones and
speakers.

Installation of the Blue Devil.

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