TOMRA Recycling, a global leader in sensor-based sorting solutions, has expanded its portfolio of advanced metals recycling with a groundbreaking AI-based solution to upgrade wrought recycled aluminum.
This development represents the first application of GAINnext™ – TOMRA’s revolutionary deep learning-based sorting technology – in the metals industry. This AI innovation enables recycled aluminum processors and recyclers to upgrade their wrought recycled aluminum and produce exceptionally high purity fractions by instantly recovering low alloy cast from the wrought fraction and reducing alloying elements such as silicon. GAINnext™ complements TOMRA’s X-TRACT™, which separates based on atomic density.
TOMRA’s X-TRACT™, featuring X-ray Transmission (XRT) technology, is the industry standard for sorting aluminum from heavy metals based on atomic density. X-TRACT™ initially sorts shredded mixed nonferrous metals (Zorba) to produce high-purity recycled aluminum (Twitch), then removes high alloy aluminum cast and high-density wrought aluminum to further refine the Twitch. This process yields a high-quality fraction, containing both wrought aluminum and minor amounts of low alloy cast, which other currently available sorting methods cannot fully separate.
By integrating GAINnext™ into the sorting process after X-TRACT™, a pure wrought fraction can be achieved. GAINnext™ leverages the power of deep learning and artificial neural networks. Using RGB cameras, it rapidly processes tens to hundreds of thousands of images per millisecond, ‘perceiving’ and ‘classifying’ materials by shape, size, and dimension with exceptional accuracy.
This advanced system, trained over years by TOMRA’s experts, mimics human vision but with superior speed, facilitating high throughput sorting of up to 2,000 ejections per minute. In its first metals industry application, by precisely detecting and removing low alloy cast from the wrought fraction that TOMRA’s X-TRACT™ produces, GAINnext™ delivers an exceptionally high purity wrought product that commands premium market prices.
For TOMRA customers seeking to achieve even higher granularity levels in aluminum sorting, the wrought fraction recovered by GAINnext™ can be further refined using TOMRA’s AUTOSORT™ PULSE system, which employs dynamic laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (Dynamic LIBS) for precise identification and sorting of different alloy types. Launched in 2023, AUTOSORT™ PULSE, TOMRA’s breakthrough innovation, leverages precise elemental composition analysis and advanced dynamic laser detection to accurately distinguish between different alloy types e.g. 5xxx and 6xxx aluminum.
“We are excited to launch this new deep learning-based application to upgrade wrought aluminum,” said Tom Jansen, head of metals segment, sales at TOMRA Recycling. “Deep learning is a powerful addition to our traditional sensor-based technology, and expanding our GAINnext™ ecosystem aligns with our broader AI strategy. Building on our proven success and the significant results our customers have achieved with GAINnext™ in the waste segment, we are confident in delivering similar value to our metals customers.”
Photos courtesy of TOMRA.
