Automated textile sorting systems
Closing the gap between the immense diversity of collected used textiles and the strict uniformity needed for textile-to-textile recycling, requires sorting at scale -- with high precision and high volumes. Our automated sorting technology is at the heart of our solution.
Half of European markets are already collecting textiles separately, and from January 2025 it will be mandatory for all. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes are being set up, requiring textile producers to pay up front for handling end-of-life textiles.
While Europe is taking a lead with regulations, several US states and Asian countries -- where most textile manufacturing is located -- have also announced ambitious targets for regulations, incentives and infrastructure investments enabling increased recycling of both post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste.
Automated sorting technology is essential for connecting the dots between textiles collected and emerging textile recycling technologies. TOMRA Textiles is building on TOMRA's 50+ years of experience in enabling circular solutions to make this happen. Our textile sorting systems combine high precision near-infrared (NIR) and visual (VIS) spectrometry sensors to separate materials by color and type (cotton, polyester, wool, etc.). High content compositions are sorted into light and dark colors to meet even the strictest feedstock requirements.
Cuttings and shredded textiles can be effectively sorted and purified with a combination of sensor-based sorting technologies. Whether sorting post-industrial materials or post-consumer textiles, our sorting systems offer exceptional quality standards – ideal for creating new products made from recycled fibers.
High throughput, automated sorting of shredded textiles instantly identifies impurities such as trims made of plastics, metal, or other materials. Our high precision sorting systems remove unwanted fractions from the textile stream, resulting in high-quality recovered fabrics that can be prepared for either mechanical or chemical recycling processes.
Powering the world's first fully automated textile recycling plant
TOMRA's automated sorting technology is powering the world's first fully automated textile sorting plant, located in Malmö, Sweden. The facility is capable of sorting up to 24,000 tonnes of textiles per year and has been in operation since 2021.
Interested in knowing more or partnering with us?
In close collaboration with TOMRA Recycling and other technology partners, TOMRA Textiles is exploring solutions and technologies enabling textile circularity at scale. Please follow this site for updates, or drop us a line if you want to co-create with us!
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AUTOSORT™
The world-renowed AUTOSORT™ offers legendary sorting performance that stands the test of time, delivering unparalleled throughput and purity rates across numerous applications.
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