The new board will be installed in Tomra’s Automated Recycling Centres (ARCs).
Reverse vending machines are advanced mechatronics solutions filled with sensors, sorting mechanisms and communications applications and with a screen-based user interface.
The need for processor power in Tomra’s applications has increased in line with the requirements for the user interface and for communication with the applications in the shops’ checkout equipment. In some of Tomra’s solutions the requirements are particularly challenging, and so Tomra wanted to consider a standardised but still flexible and specially adapted COTS board.
high-tech recycling
Reverse vending machines from Tomra have developed from being basically mechanical bottle-counting machines into mechatronic recycling solutions which validate, sort and compress. The machines report any technical problems direct to Tomra HQ via a dedicated communications solution.
“The functionality in the machines has increased, and they now have better graphics with a more comprehensive customer interface, as well as a connection to the shops’ checkout systems. This has led to a need for increased processor power, which in turn increases costs. In addition to limiting this increase in cost, we also wanted in this case to have low energy consumption, low heat production, an integrated PSU with specific requirements and a predictable delivery situation.
”We had had positive experiences from our long partnership with Data Respons, and we contacted them for advice on how we should proceed,” explains Åsmund Dagslet, R&D Manager Special Projects at Tomra.
standardised, tailor-made
Tomra discussed a number of alternatives with Data Respons and settled on a solution with a good balance between price and performance as well as a power supply matching Tomra’s specific needs. This COTS board was then adapted, thereby becoming a tailor-made board specific to Tomra.
“We supplied an overall requirements specification to Data Respons, who took care of the details and delivered the final product. The work on the specification proved to be a challenge, but as a result we were able to free up internal resources. Additionally, we got the benefits of a standard-based board which can be used in many of our solutions,” says Dagslet.
“Tomra contacted Data Respons in December 2006 in connection with a development project in partnership with our project department. It became apparent that the costs of the solution would be so high that the final solution was a standard product from one of our suppliers.
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Tomra needed a solution with a high degree of flexibility, and the requirements specification demanded that the standard board be adapted,” explains Knut Strandenæs, Strategic Account Manager at Data Respons.
Åsmund Dagslet has planned further areas of application for the board, but feels it is too early to reveal details.
“What we can say is that the card will have a central role in the ARC equipment which is being sold to such companies as the British supermarket chain Tesco,” he says.
arc for the non-deposit market in the uk
Between 5 and 10 per cent of all packaging worldwide is subject to deposit arrangements, whereas the rest is non-deposit. The market which Tomra is now entering is therefore enormous. At present, ARC solutions are being sold in the UK, Japan and Greece, while the market for industrial adaptation also includes Spain, France, Italy and the USA.
Tomra’s ARC solution is intended for this segment, and the company’s largest contract so far is with the British supermarket chain Tesco, which is offering its customers the use of Tomra’s recycling machines at many of its stores.