Innovations by Partners

partner

innovations

attracting stakeholders

Fraunhofer ILT

• process developed for laser drilling and laser spectroscopic analyses of electronic components
• image processing and evaluation software for 2D-, 3D-imaging data of PCBs
• laser unsoldering process developed, know how transferred to OSAI
• prototype machine for 2D-, 3D-imaging and laser spectroscopic analysis in a measuring volume of 500 x 500 x 30 mm³
• pulsed-power-fragmentation for a batch treatment of residues of dismantled MPHs and PCBs to liberate valuable components

• presentation of ADIR processes and machines on Berliner Recycling- und Sekundärrohstoffkonferenz, Berlin, held on 2-3.3.2020 in Berlin, Germany
• machine 5 and machine 6 can be demonstrated for customers
• Fraunhofer patent on process sequence of ADIR
• organisation of two demo days at ECG, Goslar: 17.5.2019, 21.11.2019
• concept, screenplay for video showing running ADIR demonstrator
• ADIR website: www.ADIR.eu  

Fraunhofer IFF

• AI¹⁾-based machine vision for detection of model and orientation on the conveyor
• developed process for dismantling various mobile phone models, including removal of battery, removal of PCB from housing, and removal of shieldings on PCB to allow further processing

• machine 2 can be demonstrated for customers
• participation in demo day at ECG, Goslar: 21.11.2019
• creation of final video of ADIR demonstration

Ł-IMN

• developed technology for selective hydrometallurgical recovery of Au, Ag and PGMs²⁾ from separated fractions of PCBs
• developed technology for hydro-metallurgical recovery of neodymium from magnets separated from PCBs
• complete analytical procedures for determination of composition and process control for all stages and streams of precious metals recovery

• presentations of technologies at conferences after end of the project, such as Circular Economy in Non-Ferrous Metals Industry, held on 26-28.2.2020 in Cracow, Poland
• technologies can be demonstrated for customers in pilot installations of Łukasiewicz-IMN
• Ł-IMN patent on neodymium recovery from electronic scrap

Electrocycling

• feeding and singularisation of MPHs on a belt conveyor up to a take over position
• structured documentation of disassembly procedures of MPHs
• localisation of valuable electronic components on PCBs from MPHs and servers
• evaluation schemes for field tests of ADIR demonstrator

• machine 1 can be demonstrated for customers
• economic assessment of ADIR demonstrator and proposals for future development actions for improvement
• comprehensive experience in operation of novel process line for automated diassembly of WEEE and generation of new sorting fractions

OSAI

• design of laser-based machine for desoldering and cut out of components from PCBs 
• development of industrial process for the automatic desoldering and sorting of components
• design of a double-purpose optical set-up able to both laser-desolder and cut-out of components from PCBs 
• design of ad-hoc equipment for automatic sorting of components detached from PCBs; the components are extracted with a dedicated suction nozzle, integrated in the machine.
• design of a universal clamping system for the fixing of PCBs
• software and hardware implementation and integration for the lasering process and PCBs automation 
• definition of sorting rules for the progressive extraction of components (extraction order, suction direction, sorting orientation)
• integration of the machines; implementing safety, communication between modules and synchronisation of processes

• machine 4 is installed at the facility of Electrocycling GmbH, Goslar, for future industrial development
• further activities are planned on machine 4
• machine 3 can be demonstrated for customers
• video with running machines to demonstrate WEEE recycling companies the potential of automation for the selective dismantling and sorting of valuable materials

LSA

• extension for LSA automation and analysis software:
  interface to a new laser source,
  interface to a scanning device for fast 3D-positioning of laser beam and plasma radiation,
  user-interface for analysis point / area selection of samples and integration to automation,
  analysis module for score-evaluation of LIBS³⁾-Signals,
  new TCP-interface to master / process plant

H.C. Starck

• process development and verification for recovery of tantalum and tungsten from separated electronic components like tantalum capacitors and vibrational motors
• first indication of a recovery process of tantalum from SAW⁴⁾ filters
• implementation of these recovery processes in overall process chain of tantalum and tungsten processing
• localisation of valuable electronic components, like Ta capacitors and SAW filters, on selected PCBs from MPH and servers

• economic assessment of ADIR demonstrator and proposals for future development actions for improvement
• support of first demo day at H.C. Starck facility in Goslar, 17.5.2019

Aurubis

• process developed for composition analysis of single MPHs and single PCBs from MPHs and from servers
• localisation of valuable electronic components on PCBs from MPHs and servers

• economic assessment of ADIR demonstrator and proposals for future development actions for improvement

TreTau

• machine vision software, capable of simultaneously recognising multiple pieces of interest under the camera lens, giving the local position of the pieces with respect to a predefined reference; different types of pieces and their positions can be used by a third-party system
• machine is stand-alone, designed to minimise economical and physical impact on existing lines, to allow a major and wide integration all over the world, even in locations of less advanced countries, where most of the sorting is currently being done

• machine 7 can be demonstrated for customers
• software will be improved to be more user friendly
• hardware must be upgraded to operate in harsher environments to target all possible users
• plan is to sell the equipment and integrate it in existing recycling lines
• plan is to offer as a service the recognition models for different types of pieces