Equipment Report

Machinex debuts Mach Vision, Intell dashboard

Machinex, a waste and recycling technology manufacturer based in Plessisville, Quebec, has debuted two new products aimed at increasing sorting capabilities at material recovery facilities (MRFs).

According to a news release from Machinex, Mach Vision and Intell use Machinex artificial intelligence (AI) and were developed by the equipment manufacturer’s research and development team. 

Mach Vision is a data acquisition station powered by AI that can use a combination of technologies, including infrared hyperspectral imaging, visual recognition and metal detectors, to analyze material streams.

According to Machinex, the system provides a great understanding of material composition in real-time, allowing MRF operators to benefit from valuable data on system efficiency and the composition of the material stream. With this information, operators can respond quickly to changing trends to optimize plant performance, the company says.

“This new equipment is a real game-changer for MRF operations since they can now be based on smart processing,” says Chris Hawn, CEO of Machinex Technologies, the company’s U.S. division, which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The Mach Vision system allows operators to be aware of the breakdown of material streams by material type, composition and contamination. They will be able to target areas for potential improvement of operations and plant adjustments, as well as create an instantaneous shift in behavior before [the] next collection,” he adds.

According to the company, Mach Vision is connected to Intell, which Machinex created to provide MRF managers with detailed information on their operations by connecting to equipment such as Mach Vision, SamurAI robots and MACH Hyspec optical sorters. The Intell dashboard provides real-time data capture to help MRF operators fully comprehend the material stream as seen by the AI and other technologies used by the connected equipment. Machinex says this capability can allow for a data-driven decision process that allows MRF operators to optimize the performance of their processing systems.

The Intell system provides key performance indicators, such as the flow composition, volume per material type, material trends per given period and the total material seen on the belt, Machinex says.

Amos Manufacturing shredder line includes 125-horsepower dual-shaft shredder

Amos Manufacturing Inc., Alpena, Michigan, offers a full range of shredders, including a 125-horsepower dual-shaft shredder.

According to a news release from Amos Manufacturing, its shredders are custom-built based on the requirements of each application. Each solution is tailored to accommodate an operation’s feeding, shredding and conveyance of material. Additionally, if a complete solution is needed, Amos says it can provide the auxiliary equipment that supports a turnkey solution.

The 125-horsepower dual-shaft shredder features a low-speed, high-torque cutter design that shreds metal with ease and efficiency, reducing the particle size and providing consistency for further processing and more efficient handling, according to the company. This also allows for an increase in the density of scrap material, helping to cut costs associated with transportation.

Amos says its shredders are designed to reduce volume and create more consistently sized material, which increases the efficiency of additional downstream operations.

The company offers shredders from 1 to 400 horsepower and beyond, with a wide selection of industrial shredders for a variety of applications. A complete solution can be provided based on the type of materials being processed, throughput, particle size, feeding method and other operational requirements.

Pellenc renews emphasis on ‘design for recycling’

Stating “Design for recycling is emerging as one of the key solutions” to boosting recycling rates, France-based equipment and technology provider Pellenc ST says it is creating a dedicated Design for Recycling unit in 2021.

“Companies know that they need to rethink their manufacturing processes to reduce their environmental impact,” the firm says. These issues have become a central concern in their new product design strategies, as well as in the eyes of consumers.”

Referring to itself as a supplier of intelligent sorting solutions for materials processing, Pellenc says it works closely with recycling deposit-return scheme operators, brand owners and designers of packaging, coloring agents and additives around the world.

“To accelerate the development of the circular economy and further support those partners, Pellenc ST is innovating and creating a dedicated Design for Recycling unit in 2021,” the manufacturer says. “The role of that unit is to meet the specific needs of packaging producers. The team helps such producers develop test protocols and shares its business expertise through diagnostics and recommendations for improvements.”

The Pellenc ST Test Center will be available to “validate the ‘sortability’ of [proposed] packaging in the real-life conditions of a material recovery facility (MRF),” the company states. “This approach allows Pellenc ST to stay abreast of market developments, anticipate the arrival of new materials and take those materials into account in its technological road map.”

As an example, Pellenc says it was involved from the outset in validating the sortability of dark packaging made without using carbon black, conducting tests at the Test Center that were incorporated into subsequent approval protocols for black packaging.

The technology provider says it is developing close partnerships with technical centers and research laboratories specializing in each of the major materials sectors. “That collaboration makes it possible to carry out recyclability tests and provide packaging manufacturers with a general overview of the end-of-life of their products,” Pellenc adds.