Tomra Acquired a Stake in PolyPerception

The internationally active supplier of collection and sorting techno­logy, Tomra, has further invested in artificial intelligence by acquiring a 25 percent stake in PolyPerception, a Belgium-based start-up offering AI-based waste flow monitoring.

PolyPerception Dashboard (Photo: Tomra/PolyPerception)

Tomra, one of the leading collection and sorting solutions providers, began collaborating with PolyPerception in December 2022. As reported, this investment in the company is another step in its “journey to transform resource recovery with the latest technology”. According to Dr. Volker Rehrmann, Head of Tomra Recycling, by expanding the cooperation with PolyPerception, the company was able to combine its advanced material sorting systems and cloud-based monitoring solution with innovative material analysis. “This synergy enables us to enhance the optimization of the entire process and material flow, providing a significant advantage to our customers. Plus, it now allows us to harness PolyPerceptions’ data and AI expertise for continued enhancements to our machinery.” As underlined by the Norway-based partner, PolyPerception offers a waste analysis solution for PET recyclers and sorting plants. By measuring data at key points in the sorting process, the company helps sorting facility operators to continuously assess the quality of sorted streams and the loss of good material in the residual stream to enable data-driven decisions. “It further functions as an automated compliance system, ensuring adherence to stringent regulations governing food-grade recycling and local legislation. With the regulatory landscape evolving towards greater stringency, PolyPerception anticipates growing demand in the market for its transformative technology.”

Nicolas Braem, co-founder and CEO of PolyPerception, was also very positive about the acquisition. “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Tomra as a key strategic ally and distributor,” he was quoted. “Thanks to Tomra’s pole position in the market and extensive industry knowledge, we can accelerate the development of our technology and gain increased market visibility to speed up commercialization. Additionally, we’re enthusiastic about exploring additional collaborative opportunities to drive our mission of automating sorting processes even faster. It’s a win-win!”

tomra.com/en, polyperception.com

(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 2/2024, Page 39, Photo: Tomra/PolyPerception)