How does a textile recycling line work?

The textile recycling process involves several advanced technological steps, which are based on the use of NIR (Near-Infrared) and RGB cameras, along with learning algorithms to classify and sort textiles according to their composition, color, shape and texture.

textile supply

Clothes or textiles are placed individually on a conveyor belt. This step is essential to ensure uniform distribution of materials on the conveyor belt so that each item can be analyzed correctly.

Scanning and Analysis of Materials

Once the materials arrive on the tape, they are scanned using two types of cameras:

• NIR (Near-Infrared) rooms: They detect the composition of textile fibers by analyzing the near infrared spectrum. This technology is sensitive to organic constituents and can provide chemical and physical information about the material.
• RGB cameras: These rooms analyze the color, shape and texture of textiles. They capture images in the visible spectrum (red-green-blue) and provide detailed information about the visual aspect of each item.

The data collected by these cameras are combined with algorithms of Deep Learning To determine the category in which each item must be sorted.

Classification of textiles

After the information about the composition, color and shape of the material is collected, artificial intelligence algorithms decide the appropriate category for each item. The system is able to recognize and separate different classes of textiles, including pure fibers (cotton, polyester, etc.) or fiber mixtures, depending on customer specifications.

Physical sorting of textiles

By classification, textile items are directed to the corresponding pile using a compressed air blowing system. Compressed air valves are activated at the right time to transport items to category specific containers.

The system can be configured to sort the materials according to the customer's specifications, allowing the customization of categories according to composition, color or structure.

Sorted textile storage

Sorted materials are automatically stored in bunkers that feed Baling presses. . . This step allows the preparation of materials for the following phases of the recycling or reuse process.

The entire line for recycling textile waste is designed modularly, which allows the customer to define their own layout and progressively expand the number of system outputs to optimize the return on investment.