Thursday, April 23, 2026
TOMRA Recycling, a global leader in sensor-based sorting solutions, has just opened a new Americas Test & Training Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. This state-of-the-art facility is poised to revolutionize customer support for recyclers across the region by offering cutting-edge sorting technologies, extensive training programs, and dedicated warehouse space. With an eye on expanding its operations and enhancing customer service, TOMRA Recycling is ensuring that it remains at the forefront of the recycling industry in the Americas.
State-of-the-Art Testing Circuit Brings Advanced Sorting Technology to the Americas
The newly inaugurated center features a 425-square-meter dedicated testing and training area, showcasing TOMRA’s latest sorting technologies. This includes the revolutionary AUTOSORT™ machine, equipped with TOMRA’s deep learning AI technology, GAINnext™, which is designed to tackle the challenges faced by recyclers in an ever-changing market. From municipal solid waste to paper and plastics, AUTOSORT™ provides high-level sorting capabilities with a flexible sensor configuration to meet diverse recycling demands.
Advanced AI and Optical Sorting for Superior Recycling Outcomes
At the heart of TOMRA’s new test center is GAINnext™, an AI-based visual classification system that maximizes the recovery and purity levels of recyclate materials. This deep-learning technology is particularly effective at identifying hard-to-classify objects, ensuring that recyclers get the highest yield from their materials. For plastic flakes, the center also showcases AUTOSORT™ FLAKE and INNOSORT™ FLAKE technologies. These advanced systems use near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers and dual-sided imaging to sort high-purity flakes from mixed, contaminated streams, ensuring that recyclers can produce premium end products.
Waste Analyzer Brings Data Transparency to Recycling Operations
In addition to sorting machines, the center features the Waste Analyzer from PolyPerception, which uses deep learning AI to provide real-time monitoring of material flow. The system captures images of the material flow at key points in the sorting process, analyzing performance metrics such as throughput, waste composition, and yield loss. The data generated helps recyclers improve their operations, lower costs, and optimize performance. “Our customers in the Americas can now enjoy expanded testing capacities, shorter lead times, and greater flexibility in scheduling tests,” said Michelle Landon, Senior Vice President and Head of Americas at TOMRA Recycling.
Expanding Training Capabilities for a Global Recycling Community
The opening of this center also represents a major expansion of TOMRA’s training capabilities. In addition to providing a platform for customers to test and refine their processes, TOMRA is offering training for both customers and service technicians. The Operational Maintenance Training program is already available, focusing on machine operation, safety protocols, performance data backup, system restoration, and fault code diagnostics. For more advanced users, the Maximizing Performance Training program delves into machine performance analysis, stabilization techniques, and troubleshooting.
Global Reach and Local Expertise: A Winning Combination
TOMRA’s Test & Training Center in Charlotte is the latest addition to the company’s global network, which includes similar facilities in Europe and Asia. According to Ralph Uepping, Head of Technology for TOMRA Recycling, the Charlotte center mirrors the high standards of TOMRA’s global sites, ensuring that recyclers in the Americas have direct access to world-class technical expertise and innovations. This expansion strengthens TOMRA’s commitment to partnering with customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their equipment, from pre-sale consultation to installation and after-sales support.
“By combining the latest sorting technologies with customized training programs, we aim to ensure that recyclers achieve optimal plant performance, maximize throughput, and improve profitability,” Uepping added. TOMRA Recycling’s new Test & Training Center is poised to be a game-changer for the recycling industry, helping companies throughout the Americas tackle their sorting challenges with greater precision and efficiency.
This advanced testing and training facility reflects TOMRA’s ongoing dedication to advancing the recycling industry through technological innovation and customer support. As more recyclers in the Americas seek to improve their operations, TOMRA’s new center offers the tools and expertise they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving market. Whether it’s exploring new sorting technologies or optimizing plant performance, TOMRA Recycling’s Charlotte facility will be a key resource for the future of recycling in the Americas.
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Tags: recycling technology, sensor-based sorting, Test & Training Center, TOMRA Recycling, waste management
