The two leading sorting solutions providers, REDWAVE and TOMRA, have announced a strategic agreement aimed at providing customers with a seamless supply of sorting systems based on XRF (x-ray fluorescence) and XRT (x-ray transmission) technology. This new arrangement will make it easier and more efficient for customers to access top-tier sorting technologies from one turnkey supplier.
Effective from November 1st, 2024, REDWAVE and TOMRA Recycling offer each other’s complementary metal sorting technologies directly to their respective customers. By facilitating access to the combined technologies in one go, both REDWAVE, a Competence Center of BT-Systems, and TOMRA Recycling aim to address the growing demand for sustainable and efficient Zorba sorting processes, enhancing scrap metal recovery and delivering the highest quality of end fractions. Customers can now source both technologies from one supplier, however REDWAVE and TOMRA will continue to operate fully independently, focusing on their individual technology expertise and directly assisting customers with after-sales service on their respective equipment.
Benefits in Zorba sorting
This non-exclusive agreement will be particularly beneficial to recyclers and plant operators in Zorba sorting, providing them with more efficient and accurate capabilities. Zorba, a mix of non-ferrous metals, requires a multi-step, precise process to maximize recovery and value. The combined technologies of REDWAVE and TOMRA are perfectly suited to meet these complex requirements.
TOMRA Recycling’s industry-leading XRT sorting solutions are renowned for their ability to distinguish materials based on atomic density. Having been on the market for more than two decades, they are ideal for separating heavy metals from aluminum. REDWAVE’s XRF sorting solutions, also highly regarded globally, excel in recognizing materials according to their chemical composition, ensuring high-precision sorting of the recovered mixed heavy metals into mono-metal products such as copper, brass or zinc.
Shared vision and complementary technology
“Both TOMRA Recycling and REDWAVE – the Competence Center for Recycling & Sorting Solutions of BT-Systems GmbH – share the vision for a circular economy and net-zero emissions. While both companies remain independent and focused on their individual strengths, together we make it easier for our customers to efficiently upgrade scrap metal, achieve the highest quality standards and promote sustainability and efficiency,” says Gerald Kreiner, CEO of BT-Systems GmbH.
Tom Jansen, Segment Director Metal, Sales at TOMRA Recycling, added, “We are thrilled to offer our customers a complete solution by working with another global industry leader in metal sorting. Our complementary technologies offer customers the advantage of one turnkey solution for their needs.”
The combination of the two companies’ advanced sorting technologies and REDWAVE’s plant-building expertise is anticipated to benefit a wide range of industries, from automotive to electronics, by providing higher-quality recycled materials. This agreement underscores the commitment of REDWAVE and TOMRA Recycling to driving innovation and sustainability in the recycling sector.
TOMRA Recycling Sorting
TOMRA Recycling Sorting designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting technologies for the global recycling and waste management industry to transform resource recovery and create value in waste.
The company was the first to develop advanced waste and metals sorting applications use high capacity near infrared (NIR) technology to extract the most value from resources and keep materials in a loop of use and reuse. To date, around 10,000 systems have been installed in 100 countries worldwide. TOMRA Recycling is a division of TOMRA Group. TOMRA was founded on an innovation in 1972 that began with the design, manufacturing and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Today, TOMRA is leading the resource revolution to transform how the planet’s resources are obtained, used and reused to enable a world without waste. The company’s other business divisions are TOMRA Food and TOMRA Collection.
TOMRA has approximately 105,000 installations in over 100 markets worldwide and had total revenues of about 14.8 billion NOK in 2023. The Group employs 5,000 people globally and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The company headquarters are in Asker, Norway.
REDWAVE
REDWAVE is a global leader in innovative sorting technologies for the recycling and mining industries. As a Competence Center of BT-Systems GmbH, based in Austria, REDWAVE operates worldwide, delivering advanced sorting solutions that optimize material recovery and resource efficiency. REDWAVEs cutting-edge sensor-based sorting machines and comprehensive plant solutions set industry benchmarks, helping clients maximize productivity while contributing to sustainability.
REDWAVE has been part of BT-Systems GmbH as a key Competence Center for sorting technologies since July 2024, previously operating as a division of BT-Wolfgang Binder GmbH. This integration significantly strengthens our position in sorting technologies, as BT-Systems unites several specialized competence centers focused on innovative solutions. REDWAVE operates worldwide with a total revenue of about 150 million EUR generated by BT-Systems GmbH and employs approximately 400 people. Headquartered in Austria, REDWAVE also has subsidiaries in America and Germany.
