Hyperspectral Imaging Application

Recycling

Learn more about how to you use spectral imaging cameras for recycling

HAIP Solutions

We deliver spectral sensing technology for your application!

Recycling

The efficient recovery of recyclable materials from various waste streams from commercial, industrial or household collection is one of the greatest challenges in the recycling industry in order to ensure a sustainable circular economy. The material spectrum of the waste composition is diverse and mainly consists of various plastics, composites, organic materials such as wood, paper and compost, mineral components as well as ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Depending on the application, the cameras can be used to sort PET flakes, for example, by type or colour. Off-colours and foreign plastics are precisely removed from the PET stream by means of the sorting technology. In this way, a particularly high purity of the sorted material is achieved.

As the sorted material flies through the detection area, the corresponding sensor detects the type, if applicable the colour and the position on the conveyor belt. The control system then activates the correct nozzles of the discharge nozzle bar with time and position accuracy. The nozzle bar is arranged above the material flow and shoots from top to bottom. Detected foreign particles are then discharged precisely and with minimal material loss with a targeted blast of compressed air. The sorted fractions can be transported to the next processing stage with material discharge belts.

Common use cases

Plastic Flake Sorting

Graphic on how hyperspectral imaging can sort plastic flakes by colour and by polymer type

The correct and accurate sorting of polymers is essential for an efficient recycling process. There are two options concerning the sorting of polymers: sorting them by color or by polymer type. 

RGB cameras are capable of identifying and selecting all types of colors. They are often utilized in machine sorting applications.

Hyperspectral cameras enable the plastic sorting by their polymer type is only possible with hyperspectral cameras. It involves analyzing the spectral signatures of various polymers. Applying this technology allows us to accurately identify and sort different types of polymers, including PE, PP, PS, PET and PVC. It offers a fast and efficient solution, cutting down on sorting time and expenses while improving accuracy. 

View our Application Notes

Application Note concerning hyperspectral imaging - plastic flakes

BlackIndustry SWIR 1.7 / Max: Recycling - Plastic Flakes

The earth has a massive problem with plastic waste. Over 400 million tons of plastic are produced …

Application Note concerning hyperspectral imaging - plastic detection

BlackIndustry SWIR 1.7 / Max: Plastic Detection in the SWIR Range​

The success of recycling largely depends on the purity of the input material. This …

Hyperspectral Imaging Solutions

Recycling

Hyperspectral camera called BlackIndustry VNIR V2 manufactured by HAIP Solutions. Hyperspectral imaging systems and cameras​

BlackIndustry VNIR V2

500-1000 nm wavelength range

Hyperspectral camera called BlackIndustry VNIR V2 manufactured by HAIP Solutions. Hyperspectral imaging systems and cameras​

BlackIndustry NIR

700-1050 nm wavelength range

Hyperspectral camera called BlackIndustry SWIR 1.7 manufactured by HAIP Solutions

BlackIndustry SWIR 1.7

900-1730 nm wavelength range

Hyperspectral camera called BlackIndustry SWIR 1.7 manufactured by HAIP Solutions

BlackIndustry SWIR 1.7 Max

900-1730 nm wavelength range

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