Tomra test marketing second multi-feed RVM

The Tomra Collection business unit of Norway-based Tomra Systems ASA is testing its R2 reverse vending machine (RVM) for beverage container recycling in four European countries.

The in-store tests are taking place at supermarkets in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland and have been designed to involve both retailers and recyclers in the development of the new RVM, the company says.

The feedback and results tied to the European installations will be used to further refine the RD model before its official launch this September.

With its multifeed model, Tomra says RVM users can pour hundreds of bottles and cans into a larger machine opening rather than feeding them one by one, as has been standard RVM practice for many years.

“Tomra R2 rethinks recycling: It takes the next leap in design and makes multifeed returns available to even more stores,” says Jonas Døvik, product manager at Tomra Collection. “We are excited to test Tomra R2 live in the market with our retail partners.”

“Think of it as a game-changer in reverse vending, offering a fast and rewarding recycling experience that meets the needs and expectations of today’s busy retailers and consumers—and makes it even easier and more motivating to contribute to recycling.”

Tomra R2 will be the second product in the company’s multifeed line. The company’s Tomra R1 this year reached 500 installations in 16 countries, according to the firm.

While Tomra R1 is designed for retailers with high volumes of container returns, the company says its R2 model has a smaller physical footprint making it suitable for a wider range of stores, including smaller ones.

The R2 is compatible with current Tomra behind-the-wall storage solutions for its other RVMs. “This allows retailers to reuse their existing backroom cabinets, maximizing the life span of the equipment they already have and reducing the investment required to offer their shoppers a multi-feed solution,” Tomra says.

Tomra Collection says its multifeed RVMs have been shown to attract recyclers, with stores on average seeing a 33 percent rise in the number of consumer sessions and 86 percent increase in containers returned.