TOMRA Recycling opened its new Test & Training Center at its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event was attended by recycling customers and partners, who received a first-hand tour of the expanded facilities, including a testing circuit complete with the latest sorting technologies, warehouse for critical parts storage, and training facilities.
“Today, we celebrate much more than expanded material testing capabilities and efficiency for customers and partners operating in the Americas,” said Michelle Landon, SVP and head of Americas for TOMRA Recycling. “This investment in testing, training and warehouse space at our Americas headquarters is a commitment to a deeper level of support. From pre-sale consultation and machinery sales and installation to after-sales support and on-going technical training, TOMRA Recycling partners with our customers throughout the equipment’s lifecycle.”
Latest Technologies
TOMRA Recycling’s new, 4,500 sq ft (425 sq m) dedicated test center is equipped with the company’s latest sorting technologies to give customers a nearby facility to test waste and plastics materials. The installation includes the latest generation of AUTOSORT™ equipped with TOMRA’s deep learning AI technology, GAINnext™.
From municipal solid waste and paper to plastics and packaging, to aluminum and other metals, AUTOSORT combines a variety of leading-edge features in one machine with a flexible sensor configuration for a sorting system that meets the challenges of a dynamic market landscape. GAINnext leverages AI-based visual classification to identify hard-to-classify objects to maximize recyclate recovery and purity levels.
Those attending TOMRA Recycling’s open house were treated to a facility tour and comments from officials. Landon shared the company’s vision for expanded material testing and training of both internal TOMRA technicians and external customers.
The main event included three material testing demonstrations. TOMRA previewed the powerful object recognition capabilities of the AUTOSORT and GAINnext, which uses deep learning technologies and neural networks to solve complex sorting challenges across paper, packaging, wood, and metals applications.
The PolyPerception Analyzer, configured for optimization at MRFs and plastics recyclers, provided insights into the live demonstration using real-world material sourced from the U.S. Bringing transparency to operations, the real-time monitoring provided by the Analyzer increases performance and lowers costs through actionable data.
“Customers can now enjoy expanded testing capacities, shorter lead times and greater flexibility when it comes to scheduling tests,” offered Andre Lehmann, test center manager recycling North America for TOMRA Recycling. “Recycling operations in the Americas are benefitting from collective global TOMRA expertise with our new Test & Training Center, since our Research & Development teams are continuing to innovate with new optical sorting and deep learning AI applications to meet customer needs.”
Beyond Testing
The new facility also provides expanded opportunities. “We can now expand and enhance our training capabilities at our Americas headquarters,” said Mateusz Brezinski, TOMRA Recycling’s customer experience director. “We plan to conduct internal service technician training as well as offer external maintenance and performance training.”
Two external training programs have already been announced. Operational Maintenance Training teaches customers basic machine operation and safety, performance data back-up and system restoration, preventative maintenance measures, and fault code diagnostics. TOMRA’s new Maximizing Performance Training overviews advanced settings machine operation, understanding machine performance, stabilizing and improving performance, and diagnosing machine conditioning.
“We are excited about the flexibility our new Testing & Training Center gives us in supporting our customers,” mentioned Daniel Ghiringhello, head of sales Americas for TOMRA Recycling. “We invite all recyclers to bring their materials and sorting challenges to TOMRA to develop a flexible, customized solution that maximizes throughput, yield, purity, and profitability.”
TOMRA’s new Testing & Training Center is one of seven TOMRA facilities worldwide. Additionally, metal materials can be tested at WENDT Corporation’s new cutting-edge Test Center in Buffalo, N.Y., that features X-TRACT™, GAINnext™ for metals and AUTOSORT™ PULSE intelligent sorting solutions.