From March 26th to 28th, the RecAL project team and Leitat gathered in Thessaloniki to celebrate a year of progress in enhancing aluminium recycling in Europe. During the meeting, key achievements were highlighted, and future steps were outlined to further optimise the supply chain of this crucial material.
A Sustainable Approach to the Aluminium Industry
The RecAL project aims to strengthen Europe’s aluminium supply chain by integrating secondary resources. This initiative seeks to reduce the carbon footprint and enhance the continent’s self-sufficiency in producing this essential metal for multiple industrial sectors.
Leitat’s Contribution
Leitat plays a crucial role in developing innovative technologies for sorting and dismantling aluminium scrap. By leveraging robotics, spectroscopy, and artificial intelligence, the technological centre works to obtain purer and more efficient waste streams for recycling.
Key Achievements
Over the past year, RecAL has made significant advancements in various key areas of aluminium recycling:
Material Analysis: Development of optical sorting processes, implementation of pilot projects in laboratories, and testing at an industrial scale.
AI & Scrap Detection: Application of RGB imaging and AI training for aluminium scrap classification, along with optimisation of mechanical pre-sorting.
Optical Sensors: Enhancement of technologies such as reflectometry and NIR-HSI spectroscopy for impurity detection in aluminium waste.
Robotic Sorting: Programming of robots for automated material sorting and their integration into industrial conveyor systems.
Towards a More Sustainable Future The innovations developed within the RecAL project are strengthening the aluminium recycling process, driving more efficient and sustainable solutions. Through the combination of advanced technology and collaboration among strategic partners, the project is laying the foundation for a smarter and more environmentally friendly recycling model.
Special thanks to Alumil and CERTH for their hospitality and support in making this meeting a success.
