ZenRobotics to Process Incinerator Bottom Ash in Germany with IMRO

IMRO Maschinenbau, a leading German manufacturer of advanced recycling systems is set to open a facility capable of processing complex waste streams such as incinerator bottom ash (IBA), in collaboration with ZenRobotics^®, a global leader in AI-powered waste sorting robotics. 

The facility will combine ZenRobotics advanced robotic and sensor-based sorting technologies with IMRO’s processing lines to efficiently recover valuable materials from complex waste streams.

Located at IMRO’s headquarters in Uffenheim, Germany, the facility will combine ZenRobotics advanced robotic and sensor-based sorting technologies with IMRO’s proven processing lines to efficiently recover valuable materials from complex waste streams. A key focus will be the treatment of incinerator bottom ash (IBA)—a solid, non-combustible residue left after waste incineration in Energy from Waste (EfW) plants. IBA typically contains a diverse mix of ash, glass, ceramics, and metals, including ferrous and non-ferrous fractions. Through fully automated identification and recovery processes, the facility will extract high-value metals such as aluminium, copper, and stainless steel from IBA and other hard-to-process waste, enhancing both material purity and operational efficiency.

“We are proud to join forces with ZenRobotics to push the boundaries of intelligent material recovery,” said Reinhard Ott, Managing Director, IMRO Maschinenbau. “Our combined technologies not only deliver exceptional purity and recovery rates but also enable recyclers to confidently process even the most demanding and complex waste streams, raising the bar for what’s possible in resource recovery.”

 

Capable of performing up to 2,300 picks per hour per arm, the ZenRobotics Heavy Picker can handle objects weighing up to 40kg and measuring up to 1.5 meters in size.

A key player in the facility will be a ZenRobotics Heavy Picker to separate multiple waste fractions with the help of various sensors, heavy-duty robot arms and artificial intelligence. It provides a simple, unmanned sorting process and makes waste sorting safer, more accurate and profitable. Capable of performing up to 2,300 picks per hour per arm, the system can handle objects weighing up to 40kg and measuring up to 1.5 meters in size. With the flexibility to deploy as many robotic arms as needed, it delivers up to 99% purity in recovered materials, making it a powerful solution for high-throughput, high-precision sorting in demanding recycling environments.

IMRO’s headquarters in Uffenheim, Germany.

“This collaboration brings together two proven leaders in recycling technology,” said Juha Mieskonen, General Manager, ZenRobotics. “By combining our expertise, we’re delivering robotic sorting solutions that not only improve throughput and recovery rates but also enable recyclers to process complex waste streams with greater precision. In high-performance markets like Germany, where efficiency, purity, and regulatory compliance are critical, our joint technologies offer recyclers a tangible edge in meeting operational and sustainability goals.”

The facility, which is scheduled to be fully operational before the end of 2025, will also function as a real-world testing environment for advanced metal separation and automation, enabling live demonstrations, customer trials, and collaborative development projects.

For more information, please visit: www.imro-maschinenbau.de/de/