Export-based eLoop LLC announced a new agreement with a European partner that will see the company deploy the first-in-the-nation artificial intelligence-powered robotics system for the recycling of flat panel displays.
According to the company, recycling these types of displays — like those used as computer monitors or televisions — is often inefficient and poses severe hazards to those who disassemble them. By teaming up with Limerick, Ireland-based FPD Recycling, eLoop is hoping to eliminate these concerns with the deployment of the fully automated FPD PRO system at its State College processing facility. It's that facility, eLoop noted, that formerly served as a manufacturing plant for Corning Inc.'s specialty glass, which produced cathode ray tubes (CRTs), the predecessor to flat panel displays, for television sets over a series of decades.
ELoop said FPD PRO is capable of containing hazardous materials found in these flat panel screens while also increasing the volume of screens that it can process in a given time.
"Because of the hazardous elements involved and the extensive manual labor required, the current method of disassembling [flat panel displays] for recycling purposes is inefficient, costly and potentially harmful to the worker," Ned Eldridge, eLoop CEO and founder, said in a prepared statement. "Improved productivity with the FPD PRO will allow us to provide this low-cost solution to recyclers so that they no longer have to expose their workers to hazardous elements while manually disassembling flat screens."
Eldridge said that workers can typically disassemble four of these screens in an hour and face exposure to mercury and other dangerous elements in the process. He said that the FDP PRO can open up to 90 flat panel displays in the same time period.
"eLoop continues to be a leader by adopting cutting edge robotics and artificial intelligence to recycle [flat panel displays] safely and efficiently," Paudy O’Brien, CEO of FPD Recycling, said in a statement. "We are excited to partner with eLoop to demonstrate how to marry state-of-the-art technology with traditional electronics recycling. Our vision is that every used [flat panel display] becomes a valuable commodity rather than hazardous waste and I am delighted to see eLoop have the same vision.”
Added Eldridge, "This is a game changing breakthrough."
ELoop claimed it is the first in the U.S. to use such technology. It also estimated that companies sold 220 million flat panel displays around the globe in 2016 alone, all of which will need recycled eventually.
