The GRINNER project (2022-2025), funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme aims at commercialising an autonomous Artificial Intelligence-enabled (AI) robotic sorting system capable of detecting and removing waste containing batteries from current waste streams before they enter inhospitable-to-battery machines that crush and consolidate waste.

First year in review | Consortium meeting in Milan 

In early September, GRINNER partners headed to Milan to discuss the project’s technical progress, upcoming tasks, and evaluate the achievements of the past year. Kicking off the agenda, Erion who kindly hosted the session, organised an afternoon tour at a local pre-treatment plant (Seval) to better visualize the practical side of e-waste management. Once again, this visit emphasised the importance and the need for the GRINNER solution for the e-waste management sector.  

The visit was followed by a full day’s technical meeting where partners provided an update on each of their tasks. Thanks to the rigorous work ethic of our project partners, GRINNER is on track and has gained good momentum that will no doubt see the team advance the development in a timely manner. The most important technical achievements of the first year are the following:  

• The technical specifications and requirements of the GRINNER solution are finalised; 
• The deployment of an early X-Ray prototype and building of a database of WEEE scrap are under way; 
• Automation devices are being tested (early prototype)  
• System conveyor belt as well as the test shield have been ordered in accordance with the system specifications. 
• The University of Essex also explained the progress made in the battery detection process: they created a large dataset from the generated samples and carried out scans in collaboration with TWI Hellas, using the Varex detector as well as performed preliminary annotations on scans. 

Site visit in Buzau, Romania

In March 2023, GRINNER partners headed to Buzau, Romania for the project's second presential consortium meeting and site visit to Green WEEEE International's local treatment facility. This interesting tour showed the necessity of the GRINNER solution on the ground. 

Early stage tests

In May 2023, technical partners met at Varex Imaging Corporation premises in Munich, Germany for a site visit and early stage tests of the X-Ray. While mechanical details are confidential, GRINNER followers received a brief photo preview of the AI learning process. 

Why GRINNER? | Educational carrousels on battery fires

During the summer months, the project released its first educational carrousel series on its social media platforms. The series consisted of six carrousels/videos on battery fires, providing a bird's-eye view on the issue. 

• Learn more about lithium batteries (LinkedIn, Twitter)
• Actions that may trigger battery fires (LinkedIn, Twitter)
• Types of thermal events caused by batteries  (LinkedIn, Twitter)
• What is a rapid fire? (LinkedIn, Twitter)
• Costs related to battery fires (LinkedIn, Twitter)
• The cost of fires caused by batteries in WEEE (LinkedIn, Twitter)

GRINNER featured in Meccanica & Automazione

GRINNER has been featured in Meccanica & Automazione thanks to Milan based project partner, Erion. Meccanica & Automazione has been point of reference in the world of the mechanical industry, machine tools and industrial process automation activities since 1994.

Launch of the project

The GRINNER project kicked off in September 2022. Led by LYNQ, a company specialising in and manufacturing execution system software, the consortium comprises of an interdisciplinary team of experts from seven research and industry organisations across the same number of European countries.

Mark Gregory, CEO of LYNQ, said,

“The project will develop and bring to market the first automated robotic system capable of detecting batteries incorporated within e-waste. The proposed activities will enable the technology to be demonstrated at the Green WEEE recycling plant in Romania, which, we anticipate, will show an effective technology resulting in a reduction in direct costs for operators while minimising environmental impact.”

Meet our partners

Get to know GRINNER project partners, their expertise, and motivation to join the consortium:

• Meet CTO of LYNQ, Danylo Prokopiv
• Andrea Centurioni elaborates on Erion's motivation to join the project
• María Anta Martínez explains why the WEEE Forum is involved in 7 EU funded projects and what’s their ambition in GRINNER
• How TWI Hellas aims to change the waste management landscape explained by Nikos Panagopoulos
• Bogdan Ene from Green WEEE explains how they lead the transition to a circular economy in Eastern and Central Europe.
• Daniel Odili explains how Varex's imaging technology will be implemented in the GRINNER X-ray Inspection System

Keep an eye on GRINNER's online platforms for updates on the rest of the consortium.

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