New pet sorting plant in Frauenfeld relies on
artificial intelligence
PET and hollow plastic bottles have been sorted at Müller Recycling AG in Frauenfeld for over 30 years. The two sorting systems from 2004 and 2015 are currently being converted and supplemented with the latest generation of sorting modules.
View of the recycling plant at Müller Recycling AG
© Borema
The system developed by Swiss machine manufacturer Borema Umwelttechnik AG is the first to utilize the advantages of artificial intelligence. Thanks to this investment, the closed PET recycling loop is secured in the long term. Sorting systems are one of the core elements of Swiss PET recycling. The more accurately the PET beverage bottles are separated from foreign matter and sorted by color, the higher the quality of the recycled PET (R-PET) that can be produced from the collected material. Because R-PET is turned back into beverage bottles, the highest quality and food safety requirements must be met.
Almost 30 years in the recycling industry
Founded in 1996, Borema supplies well-known customers from the waste disposal and recycling industry, paper and cardboard producers, logistics and transportation companies as well as wholesalers and retailers. Borema Umwelttechnik AG is one of the leading companies in the planning and supply of recycling and sorting systems. The 24-hour on-call service is one of Borema’s services that guarantees the customer the greatest possible system availability. The company’s product range includes baling presses, conveyor systems, press containers, shredders and sorting systems for recyclable materials and waste slag. Sound advice, energy-efficient systems and turnkey implementation enable customers to achieve the best possible results.
High-tech for the perfect result
In addition to the latest generation of laser and near-infrared sensors, Müller Recycling AG is now also using artificial intelligence for the first time. Thanks to this, the collected material can be recognized and sorted even more accurately. The new system can sort up to 49 bottles per second with an accuracy of 99.96 %. Other fractions include various plastics such as HDPE hollow bodies and LDPE films, and PP/PS fractions are also sorted here. PET “white opaque” (non-transparent) bottles are a completely new challenge. Borema attached great importance to this in the new design, as these products are represented on the market in ever larger quantities. The sorting plant has therefore already been prepared for this new fraction.
Sorting plants are one of the core elements of PET recycling
© Borema
PET sorting with tradition
Müller Recycling AG opened the first PET sorting plant in Switzerland in 1992. At that time, around 800 t of PET beverage bottles were sorted by hand every year. Manual sorting was supplemented by the first sorting modules in 1994. In 2004 and 2015, the plant was expanded and adapted to the latest state of the art. The 2004 system is now being completely replaced, while the 2015 system is being supplemented with new sorting modules. The plant was planned by Borema Umwelttechnik AG from Schwarzenbach (SG). By consistently relying on Swiss partners, value creation and know-how for this future-oriented industry remain in Switzerland.
