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REDWAVE XRF- Spectral Analysis

The next generation of metal sorting

REDWAVE XRF technology is transforming the recycling business. Precise sorting, higher margins and a sustainable contribution to the circular economy.


In metal recycling, companies are increasingly confronted with the challenge of not only increasing the efficiency of their processes, but also taking the quality and purity of the sorted materials to a new level.

REDWAVE, BT-Systems GmbH's Competence Center for recycling and sorting technologies, has once again reached a milestone for the metal recycling industry with the latest generation of REDWAVE XRF sorting machines. The integration of Spectral Analysis, which has been evaluated over many years, into the market-leading REDWAVE XRF sorting system opens up new possibilities for metal recycling and, in particular, for aluminium recovery. This system extension now not only enables the processing of a wide range of material streams, including ZORBA, e-scrap, used beverage cans (UBCs), IBA and mixed metal fractions, but also the detection of individual aluminium alloys, thereby ensuring the highest purity and quality.

Revolutionary flexibility and efficiency
The high-performance REDWAVE XRF sorting machines have been used successfully for many years to separate aluminium and heavy metals such as copper, zinc, brass and lead. In the aluminium sector, however, the sorting system was previously only able to separate aluminium on the basis of accompanying elements such as copper or zinc, which made it difficult to precisely identify and sort different aluminium alloys. These technological limits are now a thing of the past.

Thanks to the combination of spectral analysis and XRF X-ray fluorescence technology in a REDWAVE sorting system, it is now possible to view a much broader spectrum of material compositions. It not only records the signal of individual elements (peak-based analysis), but also utilises the entire spectrum to enable a much more precise separation of the alloys. Compared to other technologies, it also works as usual for materials with soiled surfaces, which makes it suitable for almost all materials. This further development opens up completely new possibilities in aluminium separation and makes a significant contribution to improving material purity and recycling quality.

The future of metal recycling
The future of metal recycling holds enormous opportunities, particularly due to the increasing demand for recycled aluminium from the automotive, construction and electronics industries. Sustainability initiatives and the increasing pressure to reduce one's carbon footprint put recycled materials in the limelight. In addition, the recycling of IBA (Incinerator Bottom Ash), which contains valuable metals, is becoming increasingly important, while many of these materials have so far remained neglected.
Technological innovations are a decisive factor for the further development of the industry. They enable companies not only to increase their efficiency, but also to make a significant contribution to the circular economy. Advanced technologies such as the REDWAVE XRF sorting system with spectral analysis open up new potential in metal recycling.
 

Why is this technology so promising?

The integration of REDWAVE Spectral Analysis into the REDWAVE XRF sorting system offers metal recycling companies numerous advantages:

  1. Maximised material purity and added value:
    Increasing material quality through increasing the concentration of aluminium alloys such as 6060/6063 or the sorting of aluminium series 1xxx-7xxx increases the market value and opens up access to particularly lucrative markets, including the demand for primary aluminium and specialised alloys, especially in the automotive industry. Recycling companies can now supply specific, high-quality materials to the best customers and maximise their added value.
     
  2. Reduction of contamination:
    Another advantage of spectral analysis is the detection of impurities that are often contained in aluminium flows - including plastic, rubber or wood. These unwanted materials are removed in a single step, making the end products even cleaner and reducing post-processing costs.
     
  3. Increased flexibility and efficiency:
    A key advantage of the new REDWAVE XRF sorting system is its flexibility: Instead of several machines, one is sufficient to cover a wide range of sorting requirements. Heavy metals, stainless steel alloys and now even aluminium alloys can be separated with one and the same machine. This efficiency not only reduces machine requirements and therefore operating costs, but also speeds up processing. Companies can optimise their entire recycling chain and benefit from a significant increase in productivity while minimising energy consumption.
     
  4. Future security:
    With its ability to adapt to new material requirements and market changes, REDWAVE XRF technology offers long-term investment security. As the entire spectrum is analysed, the system is able to keep pace with new materials and react flexibly to future requirements in the recycling sector.
     
  5. Competitiveness and higher margins:
    Companies that rely on the sorting of aluminium alloys in addition to conventional heavy metal sorting can achieve "primary aluminium" specifications and strengthen their market position.