The modern laser spectral analysis systems of UNISENSOR Sensor Systems GmbH, Karlsruhe, enable the identification of substances on the basis of their optical spectrum. The systems are used for instance in the beverage industry to detect and remove used PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles quickly and reliably. The world‘s largest soft-drink company in the United States runs the world’s most powerful PET bottle-to-bottle recycling plant - with the UNISENSOR Powersort System. The planned is designed to produce an annual 45,000 tons of recycled PET. The used PET bottles are ground into flakes which are then reused for the production of new bottles.

The production of PET bottles from recycled material is more energy and resource saving and thus more climate friendly than the production of PET bottles from new material. But it is important that the recycling flakes consist solely of PET. Therefore, impurities from plastics, other contaminants and barrier materials contained in food packaging need to be sorted out before the melting process. UNISENSOR has developed the technology for the unmistakable detection of flakes. The sorting system POWERSORT 200 detects contaminants by modern high-speed laser spectroscopy. In one single step, up to one million spectra per second are analysed and extraneous flakes blown out by means of supersonic air jets. The system capacity amounts up to three tons of flakes per hour with a “strike rate” of up to 98 per cent.

But the soft drink industry is not the only customer of UNISENSOR. The innovative company offers spectral analysis solutions for energy technology, print and alcoholic beverages industries. New challenges lie in the field of quality assurance in the foods and cereal industry.


Project Operation:
Unisensor Sensorsysteme GmbH
Am Sandfeld 11
76149 Karlsruhe/Germany
Tel. +49 721 97884-0
Fax +49 721 97884-44
info@unisensor.de
www.unisensor.de

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