Sensor-based sorting specialist, TOMRA Recycling, has launched its latest generation X-TRACT™ unit.
The new X-TRACT harnesses the power of X-Ray Transmission (XRT) technology to detect and separate wood waste from impurities like inert materials, metals, heavy plastic and glass based on atomic density.
The innovative sorting system is capable of processing up to 30 metric tonnes of wood chips per hour, depending on material conditions like moisture content and grain size, according to TOMRA.
The company says that it delivers exceptional speed and accuracy in removing contaminants, thereby producing high purity recycled wood content to meet industrial production standards.
The unit comes with a 16,000-hour warranty on critical components like the X-Ray source and sensor, which TOMRA said demonstrated its confidence in the robustness and longevity of the X-TRACT.
TOMRA’s continuous investment in the global wood segment, combined with the expertise of its in-house engineers and wood processing specialists, has resulted in the latest generation X-TRACT boasting numerous value-add features and capabilities, the company explained. Many of these are as a direct result of the success of the X-TRACT in the global mining and metals recycling markets.
According to TOMRA, key features of the new X-TRACT include:
- Up to 25% reduction in air consumption: X-TRACT now comes with a new standard ejection module which delivers greater precision and also reduces the amount of compressed air needed by up to 25% depending on application and infeed material. As a result, customers can benefit from significant energy cost savings without compromising throughput rates.
- Sorting accuracy: The machine delivers high ejection rates, consistently exceeding 98% for metals (excluding foil), 98% for inerts and 97% for heavy plastics. This superior performance is the result of robust mechanical hardware, the new standard ejection module, carefully selected X-Ray components and TOMRA’s core technologies, ensuring consistently high throughput and exceptional sorting results.
- Enhanced reliability and stability: Engineered for high sorting accuracy and minimal downtime, the new X-TRACT delivers long-term sorting stability, improved machine reliability and lower operational costs. For improved safety, a dust-resistant design prevents blockages and dust build-up. The unit’s sensor also comes with a reinforced design that enables the extended component warranty of 16,000 hours. A redesigned catcher hood enables safer and faster maintenance, minimising disruptions and maximising uptime.
While X-TRACT separates contaminants from waste wood, GAINnext™ – TOMRA’s learning-based technology for sorting wood by material type – takes sorting granularity to the next level by identifying objects by their shape, size and visual characteristics, enabling the differentiation between various types of wood or wood composites, according to TOMRA.
TOMRA was the first to introduce deep learning sorting technology for waste wood recycling in 2021, initially with a high-throughput application for sorting woodchips by type. Since then, its GAINnext™ technology, trained by TOMRA’s experts using thousands of photos, has evolved to meet the market’s growing demand for advanced wood sorting solutions. GAINnext™ now enables a wide range of wood recycling applications, including the precision sorting of different wood types and composites. It can distinguish between non-processed wood (Wood A) and processed wood (Wood B) such as OSB, chipboard and coated materials, according to TOMRA, and can also recover high purity MDF for MDF-to-MDF processing. The purity of recycled wood from complex C&D waste can also be enhanced by identifying and removing large objects of up to 400mm, the company added.
Jose Matas, Head of Waste Emerging Segments at TOMRA Recycling, comments: “We understand the critical importance of uninterrupted 24/7 operations for our customers, and with the latest advancements in our X-TRACT™, we are now even better equipped to support the industry. Furthermore, the combination of X-TRACT™ and GAINnext™delivers an unprecedented level of purity, resulting in recycled waste wood of near-virgin quality and, ultimately, opening up new profitable revenue streams for our valued customers.”
