Matvision
Better sorting for better recycling of industrial waste
MATVISION, a spin-off company born in our labs at ULiège
MATVISION is the result of more than ten years of R&D and innovation at ULiège's GeMMe laboratory, developed in collaboration with industrial partners Groupe COMET (Mons) and Cylix (Liège). MATVISION specializes in the development of robotized sorting solutions for industrial waste such as shredded metals, promoting their recycling (circular economy) in the context of the energy transition and digital.
Based on the technology developed as part of the PICKIT project, MATVISION combines an advanced system of sensors (X-ray, infrared, laser and 3D), artificial intelligence and robotics to offer a solution for fast (single-pass), accurate sorting of different metal categories. This solution optimizes the economic value of the materials sorted in this way.
MATVISION's primary market is industrial recyclers in Belgium, Europe and worldwide. The dismantling of cars and household appliances is the main source of metal waste, for which MATVISION provides a high-performance sorting solution, in particular for strategic metals such as copper, aluminum and nickel. There are currently more than 350 car recyclers in Europe, and given industrial developments based on recycling, MATVISION's potential market is even wider.
MATVISION is also a service company which studies the feasibility of the most appropriate sorting solutions on a case-by-case basis, based on its unique multi-sensor, multi-output technology. Together with its subcontractors, it then supervises the on-site assembly of robotized sorting lines. Feasibility studies are carried out on the prototype line installed at ULiège.
MATVISION srl has already received funding of 160,000 euros from its founders and imec.istart (50,000 euros: this is the first investment in its Liège hub for imec.istart). The company also benefits from a 50,000 euro convertible loan from imec.istart. MATVISION is preparing to launch a fund-raising campaign to secure over 1 million Euros in financing by September, in order to give itself the means to achieve its ambitions.
Industrial demonstrator
An early partner of ULiège's GeMMe laboratory, the COMET Group has carried out the first industrial validation of this robotized sorting solution by investing, in 2021, 10 million Euros (building and equipment) in an industrial demonstrator, a chain of 16 sorting robots with a sorting capacity of 20,000 tonnes of scrap metal per year (i.e. one billion parts at the rate of 16 parts sorted per second). Called MULTIPICK, this industrial investment was made with the support of Wallonia (as part of the Mecatech cluster's Reverse Metallurgy program) and the European FEDER fund.
MATVISION technology
The technology is based on the combined development of material recognition sensors and a high-speed robotized sorting system, driven by its own artificial intelligence.
Combination of different sensors:
- X-ray measurements for real-time assessment of material density;
- 3D scanner to measure the shape and volume parameters of crushed objects;
- Hyper-spectral camera to measure the reflectance of materials in the visible and
infrared range; - LIBS laser (laser-induced plasma spectroscopy) to differentiate between the various metal alloys.
These data are processed by machine learning, a branch of Artificial Intelligence. After learning the different categories required (aluminum, zinc, copper, brass, lead, stainless steel...), each new fragment is assigned to a category. The conveyor belt turns at over 1 meter per second. MATVISION technology is capable of processing up to 20 types of material in a single pass. This feature makes MATVISION technology unique in the world as systems currently used to process metals are only capable of separating two families simultaneously. The 3D acquisition of parts enables the optimum gripping points to be selected for gripper robots.
The MATVISION story
Originally researchers at the GeMMe laboratory, the founders benefited from the support of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Liège to help their project mature, which led them to first place in the European EIT Jumpstarter competition.
With their vision now a reality, the MATVISION team was supported by the A6K hub to refine its positioning and business model. MATVISION now also benefits from Imec's network, whose expertise and strategic advice will bolster its international development.
What is essential is invisible to the eye, and only multi-sensor solutions such as from MATVISION will be capable of sorting products that are becoming more and more complex. By positioning themselves as pioneers in robotic metal sorting techniques, Wallonia's engineers can look forward to playing a leading role in the development of the circular economy on an international scale.
After a decade of development and validation with industrial partners, our technology is now mature. What sets us apart from other systems around the world is our ability to process very large quantities of various types of scrap metal with great precision in a single pass. With MATVISION, our industrial partners can shorten recycling loops and increase the value of the waste they process and resell, making our machines profitable in record time.
From a macroeconomic point of view, the consumption of raw materials continues to rise, while recycling remains largely under-exploited. As part of the drive to reindustrialize Belgium and Europe, it is crucial to produce strategic materials as close to home as possible, in order to reduce our dependence on resources. Belgium's recognized industrial know-how is essential to strengthening our industrial autonomy. MATVISION responds to this challenge with advanced sorting technology, combining state-of-the-art machines and highly intelligent software. It was this unique and innovative combination, with an economic impact and industrial potential that won us over.
The creation of a spin-off is the culmination of a long process based on years of research, technological maturation and validation with partners. In collaboration with the Gesval team, we support researchers at every stage of this demanding process. MATVISION is a perfect example of this dynamic, and we are particularly proud to see this technology take off. Whether through the creation of spin-offs, knowledge transfer, collaborations with industry or licensing, we continue to strengthen all the levers of value creation to maximize the societal impact of university research.
The development and integration of MULTIPICK technology into its business has enabled Groupe COMET to reach a new milestone in the purification of its metal streams. By 2023, we will be able to recycle our metals through local channels, thus contributing to the decarbonization of our flows. We are delighted that MATVISION can, in this way, contribute to reducing the sector's environmental impact and to securing strategic resources in Wallonia, Belgium and Europe.
The robotized sorting solutions offered by MATVISION are truly avant-garde in the field of recycling. Complementing our approach to shredding and sorting at MTB, they enable us to sort a multitude of streams in a single step. Thanks to the various detection technologies, we have seen a significant increase in recovery and purity rates, particularly in the processing of complex waste. We see great potential in these solutions to replace complex sorting lines and respond effectively to increasingly heterogeneous deposits.
Founders
From left to right:
Robert Baudinet, CEO
Thibault Mohring, COO
David Bastin, CSO
Godefroid Dislaire, CTO
