July 15, 2024 (press release) –
Plessisville, 15 juillet 2024 – Machinex has designed and manufactured the world’s most technologically advanced Material Recovery Facility (MRF). This achievement allows its owner, Sherbourne Recycling located in the city of Coventry, a suburb of London in the United Kingdom, to reach the highest level of recyclable materials purity ever achieved. An exceptional innovation for the recycling industry on a global scale, proudly made by a Québec company
See the MRF in action for yourself:https://www.machinexrecycling.com/fr/tri/etudes-cas/#collecte-selective
During its rigorous tendering process, Sherbourne Recycling sought an innovative business in automation and sustainability. In addition to winning the tender, Machinex was the only North American company to submit an offer.
”This is explained in part by a well-established tradition of innovation at Machinex, combined with a strong desire for optimization and efficiency gains,” explains Mr. Pierre Paré, CEO of Machinex. “Automating sorting centers is nothing new for Machinex! In the 1980s, when Machinex built the first sorting center in Canada, the objective was the same as it is today: to automate sorting operations to increase efficiency and precision. Significant investments in R&D over the past 30 years have enabled our company to develop a wide range of cutting-edge equipment and technologies, including optical sorting, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other advanced technologies that are unique to us.”
Every year, the sorting center processes recyclable materials from Coventry and neighboring municipalities and to recycles approximately:
- 8 billion paper sheets
- 272 million plastic PET bottles (e.g., Water bottles)
- 102 million HDPE bottles (e.g., laundry detergent bottles)
- 272 million aluminum cans
- 84 million wine bottles
Furthermore, the sorting center uses 100% renewable energy coming from photovoltaic cells (solar panels on the roof) and from a waste-to-energy neighboring facility. This commitment to sustainable development is evident in the end product and the building itself – a clear example of Sherbourne Recycling‘s consistent approach and tangible actions to reduce its carbon footprint.
”Throughout this project, industry eyes were on us for a good reason… Expectations were high, and the challenge was significant. We can now proudly say that we have successfully met this feat,” concludes Mr. Paré.
The sorting center operated by Sherbourne Recycling, is designed to process over 50 tons per hour of recyclable materials, totaling more than 140,000 tons per year, and can reach purity levels of up to 99% for sorted materials, with only 5 manual sorters. Typically, sorting centers have a ratio of approximately 1 manual sorter per 2 tons of material sorted per hour. For example, a sorting center processing 50 tons per hour normally has 25 manual sorters to ensure smooth operation. However, Sherbourne Recycling’s sorting center has significantly reduced this number from 25 to just 5 manual sorters, thanks to their substantial investment in automation. Manual sorting is a demanding and sometimes hazardous job, and automating these operations allows for reallocating these roles to other responsibilities within the operations. Its high capacity, performance accuracy, and unmatched level of automation make this sorting center a cornerstone for advancing recyclable material management.
”Machinex played a crucial role in realizing our sorting center’s vision and worked closely with Sherbourne Recycling throughout the project to achieve a leading benchmark in the industry,” said Richard Dobbs, Managing Director of Sherbourne Recycling. “Their expertise and state-of-the-art technologies were instrumental in achieving significant milestones at Sherbourne Resource Park, particularly in delivering the desired innovation for this project and enhancing system efficiency and performance.”
”It’s immensely gratifying to see Machinex, a Québec-based company, shining worldwide. The Sherbourne Recycling project was conceived and designed with the passion and intelligence of our entire team. It’s a significant success for our company, certainly, but also for the future of the industry. Centers like this have been discussed for years, and now it’s built, operational, and delivering outstanding results.”
Furthermore, Machinex is positioning itself globally through its ownership of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) for recycling. This cutting-edge technology requires significant investments, and since 2018, Machinex has made substantial strides in its development. While there is still much work ahead to continue standing out on a global scale, these investments enable Machinex to maintain its leadership role and reinforce Québec’s position as a key player in AI. Very grateful and proud of its roots, Mr. Paré adds, ”We are pleased to contribute to technological innovation in recyclable material management worldwide. However, our sorting centers in Québec remain a source of great pride for us. They are our roots, and we need to continue supporting their evolution. ” Looking ahead, Machinex is excited to contribute its expertise as a technology provider for the ongoing construction of the new sorting center in East Montreal, further solidifying its role as a leader in the recycling industry.
Internationally recognized for its innovative sorting solutions in the waste and recycling industry, Machinex is dedicated to creating solutions for a sustainable tomorrow. Proudly based in Plessisville for over 50 years, this 100% Québec-owned company engineers, manufactures, and installs its own recycling technologies using optics, robotics, mechanics, and artificial intelligence to create the most advanced sorting solutions on the market. Machinex has quickly established itself as a global authority in designing and manufacturing high-quality sorting systems. Over the years, Machinex experts have designed and installed hundreds of turnkey systems in partnership with major waste management companies in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Australia. To learn more about Machinex, visit https://www.machinexrecycling.com/sorting/
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