SORTING | TECHNOLOGY
achieve efficient sorting performance with minimal complexity. “In PET recycling, demand for stringent food-
grade recyclate meeting EU regulatory norms continues to drive interest in integrated sorting approaches,” said Shravani Saxena, Product Manager, Optical Sorting, Bühler Group. “Sortex A GlowVision combines colour and polymer sorting on a single platform, helping recyclers improve throughput and product quality in bottle-to-bottle recycling applications. By integrating UV, NIR and RGB technologies, the system delivers high-purity output while targeting challenging defects.” At IFAT 2026 in Munich in May, Steinert demon-
strated its AI-based sorting program for food-grade PET materials. The Steinert Intelligent Object. Identifier enables precise differentiation and separation of food and non-food packaging. Steinert said the system has been in continuous operation at Netherlands-based Cirrec. IOI detects characteristic patterns such as ready-meal tray shapes, typical printing and surface textures in PET packaging.
Investing in advanced sorting technology has typically meant purchasing a complete sorting machine with sensor technology. With the introduc- tion of its Redwave NIR Modular, BT-Systems is challenging the traditional model by giving recyclers and OEMs access to Redwave’s proven sensor-based sorting technology without the need for a complete installation. Instead of replacing conveyors, frames, and infrastructure, customers can integrate the technology directly into existing or newly designed plants resulting in greater flexibility, faster implementation, and a more targeted investment.
Customisation “The recycling industry is becoming increasingly customised, and our customers want more control over how their facilities are designed and expand- ed,” said Julian Tauterer, COO, Redwave. “The NIR Modular gives plant builders and recycling operators the freedom to integrate Redwave’s proven sorting intelligence into the systems they already have or future systems they want to build.” The system combines industrial-grade NIR hyperspectral imaging with Redwave’s high-perfor- mance valve technology to deliver exceptional sorting accuracy, while optional RGB camera technology and metal detection capabilities further expand the platform’s versatility. The modular architecture allows customers to build around exist- ing infrastructure, reduce engineering complexity, shorten project timelines, and expand capacity.
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com A longstanding obstacle in sorting has been the
identification of black plastics, which cannot be detected using standard NIR systems. Sesotec introduced the Varisort+ Carbon Black sorting system as a concept at IFAT in Munich in May, and the following month transferred the first example from production to its in-house technical centre. Relying on Mid-Wave Infrared Technology (MWIR), the system detects black plastic parts at a relatively coarse grain size after pre-shredding and sorts them by material type before grinding. The material is illuminated with mid-wavelength radiation and an MWIR sensor captures the material-specific spectra, which are then analysed using intelligent software, established AI models, and spectral analysis. “The feedback at IFAT highlighted the significant demand for a reliable solution to sort black plastics,” said Tobias Eder, Head of Technologies Sorting & Plastics at Sesotec. “With the combina- tion of MWIR technology, intelligent software, and our extensive experience in spectral analysis, we can tackle this challenge early in the recycling process. Once integration is complete, we will deploy the system with our customers under real-world conditions and fine-tune it based on practical insights.” In May, separation equipment manufacturer Gep
Ecotech announced that it was opening its first sorting centre for domestic waste in Huangpi District, Wuhan, China. The project covers an area of approximately 37,146m² and is expected to fill the gap in regional waste sorting and disposal while establishing a closed-loop system. Various recycla- bles such as metals, plastics, waste textiles and paper will be sorted and processed on-site, while the remaining non-recyclable materials will be packaged and transported to incineration plants. Based on the project requirements, Gep Ecotech tailored two core solutions: a bulky waste treatment line and a recyclable material sorting line
September 2026 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 25
Above: Steinert has developed AI-based sorting
technology for food-grade PET
IMAGE: STEINERT AI
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