ZenRobotics units will go to work in Denmark

Waste and recycling company RGS Nordic processes up to one-third of Denmark’s discarded construction and demolition materials annually, according to the ZenRobotics business unit of Terex Recycling Systems.

As part of that effort, RGS will soon deploy what ZenRoboics calls an “advanced robotic sorting plant” that will be configured in Copenhagen.

“We are investing in a state-of-the-art sorting plant aimed at construction [scrap] that cannot be sorted out well enough at construction sites,” says Rasmus Brødsgaard Buch, chief operating officer of RGS.

“Using robotic technology, we want to ensure that valuable [discarded] resources end up higher in the waste hierarchy, while better supporting our customers with accurate waste data that helps them document their sustainability efforts within the area of waste.

“We believe that there is great untapped potential in utilizing technology in our sector, and that the robotic sorting facility will therefore be crucial in achieving increased circularity for the construction industry.”

Finland-based ZenRobotics says the RGS facility’s robots will be able to work around the clock, make up to 9,200 picks per hour and handle objects weighing up to 40 kilograms, or 88 pounds.

Increased automation also increases the safety of employees who work in the plant, as they will have less contact with heavy materials.

"The quality and quantity of [material] that is recycled is also improved by the AI-powered robots, which continuously improve in recognizing valuable waste resources and can be adapted to sorting tasks, in line with customer demand and market opportunities," ZenRobotics says.

“There is a growing demand for more efficient waste management and documented resource recycling rather than downcycling of materials, and a robotic sorting plant of this caliber can deliver on both parameters,” says Dr. Jarmo Ruohonen, general manager of ZenRobotics.

“We are proud to announce that the plant we are supplying to RGS Nordic will be equipped with a brand new generation of powerful AI robots that effectively recognize and sort out waste resources."

The planned RGS Nordic robotic sorting plant is scheduled to be operational by this summer.