Tomra Recycling has opened a new Americas Test & Training Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company, active in sensor-based sorting, states that the launch of the facility is intended to strengthen customer support for recyclers across the Americas. The center includes a testing circuit equipped with the latest sorting technologies, a dedicated warehouse for critical spare parts storage, and expanded training facilities.
As emphasized by Lars Enge, EVP and Head of Tomra Recycling, the expansion of testing, training, and warehouse space at the company’s Americas headquarters is intended to reflect its approach to investing in growing markets and moving closer to customers. "We are providing far more than just increased material testing capabilities. From pre-sale consultation and machinery installation to after-sales support and ongoing technical training, Tomra Recycling partners with our customers throughout the equipment's full lifecycle to ensure long-term, optimal plant performance," he said.
The new site is also expected to shorten test lead times and increase scheduling flexibility, which is relevant for plants assessing sorting line performance on real waste streams and plastic material inputs.
Latest technologies in the testing circuit
The dedicated Americas Test & Training Center covers 425 m² and has been equipped with Tomra Recycling’s latest sorting solutions. According to the company, the facility enables customers in the region to test waste and plastic materials. The center features the latest generation of the Autosort system, equipped with Tomra’s AI deep learning technology, Gainnext.
Autosort combines multiple functions in a single machine and offers a flexible sensor configuration, which is intended to address the requirements of a dynamic market, from municipal solid waste and paper to plastics and packaging. Gainnext uses AI-based visual classification to identify hard-to-classify objects, with the aim of increasing recyclate recovery and purity levels.
For advanced testing of plastic flake materials, the facility also includes Autosort Flake and Innosort Flake technologies. Innosort Flake enables simultaneous detection of polymers and colors, using an advanced near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer and dual-sided imaging with high-resolution cameras, intended to support sorting high-purity flakes from contaminated mixed streams. Autosort Flake combines an NIR spectrometer, a full-color camera, and a metal sensor to achieve high performance for high-purity end products.
The testing circuit also includes PolyPerception’s Waste Analyzer. The solution is intended to provide end-to-end material tracking and to use deep learning algorithms. Color cameras capture real-time images of material flow at strategic points in the line to analyze metrics such as throughput, waste composition, and yield loss. According to the company, the real-time monitoring is intended to increase operational transparency and support performance improvement and cost reduction through actionable data.
Tomra, material tests: during the official opening, guests saw live demonstrations and reviewed various test results
Michelle Landon, SVP and Head of Americas for Tomra Recycling, stated that customers across the Americas are expected to benefit from expanded testing capacity, shorter lead times, and greater flexibility when scheduling tests. "Recycling operations are benefiting 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," she said.
Training and role within the global network
The new center is intended to enable Tomra to expand and strengthen training capabilities at its Americas headquarters. In addition to customer maintenance and performance training, training at the facility is also planned for the company’s service technicians.
Two one-day customer training programs have already been announced. Operational Maintenance Training covers basic machine operation and safety, performance data back-up and system restoration, preventive maintenance measures, and fault code diagnostics. Maximizing Performance Training focuses on advanced settings, machine operation, understanding machine performance, stabilizing and improving performance, and diagnosing machine condition.
The importance of the new Charlotte site in the context of Tomra’s global infrastructure was highlighted by Ralph Uepping, Head of Technology for Tomra Recycling. "The Charlotte facility is a significant addition to our global network, serving as one of seven Tomra Test & Training Centers worldwide. By mirroring the high standards set at our sites across Europe and Asia, the center ensures that recyclers in the Americas have direct access to the same level of technical expertise and innovation found anywhere in the world. 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," he said.
Tomra, opening of the new test center: Michelle Landon: "Our customers can now benefit from expanded testing capacity, shorter lead times, and greater flexibility"
