Family business Spross triples down on investment
Swiss-based, family business, Spross Transport & Recycling AG has further invested into ZenRobotics robot technologies to recover more valuable fractions at their Spross Recyclingwerk Zurich RWZ site. This facility processes 180 000 t of construction waste and bulky household waste annually.
Spross has tripled the amount of Heavy Picker robot arms at their RWZ facility in 2022 to have more fractions sorted at up to 6000 picks per hour
© ZenRobotics
Spross provides recycled waste across Switzerland and the safe sorting approach is one that ensures they quickly and safely are able to sort waste efficiently and send to recovery facilities where the waste is reused.
Sorting more fractions at the speed of up to 6000 picks per hour
Spross began working with ZenRobotics back in 2019 with an aim to increase the efficiency of their waste recycling. The company will triple the amount of Heavy Picker robot arms at their RWZ facility in 2022 to have more fractions sorted at up to 6000 picks per hour – allowing them to earn more from valuable fractions or reduce the cost of elimination. So far, the robot’s been recovering mainly concrete and stone for concrete production, as well as wood and plastics and some metals. New materials can be added to the robots AI with ease, so that they can also be picked and sorted safely and therefore minimising any risk towards the team at Spross. „We are working 13 m above ground and what amazed me was that these robots work perfectly in these difficult surroundings. This environment is dusty, it is not heated, and the ground vibrates all the time,“ reports Josef Binzegger, Manager of Disposal Services at Spross.
Juha Mieskonen, Head of Sales for ZenRobotics says: “Our robots are custom made and are a perfect fit for this plant despite the challenging environment. Because our waste sorting robots work so well under challenging circumstances, they have increased work safety by replacing manual labour, and have created a workplace that actively promotes safe sorting. Thanks to the robot’s high-performance and reliability, the team at Spross have been able to increase their own production.”
The waste sorting robots have increased work safety by replacing manual labour
© ZenRobotics
Easy to operate and functional
The waste sorting robot can sort up to four different types of fractions and can be programmed to detect new sorts of waste simply by running the waste through it and telling the robot that this item needs to be collected. This along with the speed and precision that the robots picked with helped Binzegger with the decision of further investment. ZenRobotics allows Spross to keep up with legal and commercial requirements and is able to adapt to waste regulation changes with ease. The waste sorting robot is also very easy to use via a touch screen. “If you know how to use an iPhone, you also know how to use this robot with no difficulties,” Binzegger ensures.
