COVER STORY ABB
Setting a new path for sustainability with robots
Growing awareness of the impact of manufacturing on the environment is encouraging companies to apply technology to make their production processes more sustainable Julian Ware, explains how the introduction of robotic automation is enabling companies to re-imagine their processes to
By Julian Ware, UK & Ireland Sales Manager for ABB Robotics
companies across all sectors are setting themselves ambitious targets to make their operations more sustainable.
W Aimed at minimising their environmental
footprint, these targets encompass a broad spectrum of measures, from sourcing sustainably produced ingredients and the use of biodegradable materials for packaging, through to recovering and recycling waste materials when products reach the end of their useful life. In many cases, introducing these measures requires a rethink of existing processes - whether it be in terms of how a product is made, or, when it comes to the end of its life, how its constituent parts can be reused. are expanding robots’ decision-making capabilities, programming and operation of them, which is creating new ways for companies to improve the sustainability of their operations. The following are examples of projects that are to reduce their environmental impact and create new potential revenue streams that could help to build a new breed of circular economy businesses.
ith growing awareness of the impact that human activities are having on the environment,
COMPLETING THE CIRCUIT – RECOVERING E-WASTE
Around 50 million tonnes of electronics products are consigned to waste every year, which is equivalent to throwing away 1,000 laptops every second. In many instances, this e-waste will include valuable materials such as gold, platinum, aluminium, silver, copper and cobalt. Recovering and reusing these would avoid the need to extract new supplies, many of which are in increasingly short supply. However, as many products contain toxic chemicals such as mercury and lead, there is a
need to ensure that any recovery can be achieved with minimal risk of injury or exposure. Irish technology start-up FPD Recycling has
generated by the estimated nine million computer fully-automated, robotic system of its kind at electronics-recycling specialist Areera in Elland, West Yorkshire, the company is helping to process and recycle complex and potentially hazardous e-waste.
system, which uses two ABB robots, can process up to 120 screens, when running at full capacity. processing of TVs, monitors and laptops separated into two machines, which can be used standalone or connected to one another.
the next station, where it is held into position; the the processing method and then removes the ensures that any valuable or hazardous waste fractions are removed, leaving a clean waste stream that can either be shredded or manually
8 November/December 2025 Irish Manufacturing
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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