EverestLabs released a robotic sorting system that the company says can perform more picks and fit in a wider range of sortation settings than what has previously been available to processors.
The Fremont, Calif.-based company on Aug. 10 announced the release of its High Recovery Robot Cells. The new product is the company’s “smallest robot footprint cells” designed for use in recycling facilities. Robotics have grown in use in the electronics recycling sector in recent years, as well as in the wider world of municipal materials recovery.
Facility executives “been limited in their use of robotics in various locations because they just don’t have room for a large Delta arm nor need one, as one size does not fit all,” said Don Gambelin, head of sales and business development for the company, in the announcement.
Gambelin said EverestLabs has been exploring the smallest robotic system the company could provide with the highest return. The new system is the result of four years of work, the company stated.
The company contrasted the new release, which EverestLabs dubbed its 2.0 system, with its 1.0 configuration that used a delta-style robot arm. The delta configuration is common in recycling facility robotics offered by many suppliers.
The company said its new system provides greater versatility. Offering the example of a municipal recycling materials recovery facility (MRF), the company said the system “can accommodate various MRF belt configurations including sloping, low overhead clearance, trough and chevroned MRF belts,” the company stated. “This is only possible because of the fully customizable nature of our robot cells. MRF operators now can automate all tight and complex locations and achieve plant-wide automation goals.”
EverestLabs also claims its 2.0 system delivers “a 49% increase in recovery for MRFs over legacy Delta robot solutions.” The company calculated that increase by measuring 104 picks per minute performed by its latest robot cells, compared with 70 picks per minute on its delta system.
Additionally, the company reported its new robotic cells “are successfully achieving an 85% or greater pick success rate.” EverestLabs attributed this to the system’s end-of-arm tools, software and suction strength.
A version of this story appeared in Resource Recycling on August 17.
