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Description
The goal of this project is to contribute to increasing the rPET (recycled plastic PET) concentration in final preforms by improving production process quality control with on-line defects inspection system. The objective to be achieved – increased the rPET ratio in the final production by 25%, 50%, 75%, or even 100%. The direct objective of this technology is to increase the usage of secondary PET resin in the plastic industry. The developed technology mounted into PET preform production lines will encourage manufacturers to increase the percentage of secondary PET material without fear of an increased number of defects. At the same time, it will stimulate the market for secondary raw material trading. By optimizing and improving PET preform production quality control will allow decreasing the routine human labor inspection control, which is inefficient, time-consuming, and increases the possibility of the defective product. By modernizing production lines and processes manufacturers will be able to carry out higher value-added processes and focus on higher quality of the products.
The partner from Lithuania will contribute to the prototype development and testing on-site, the partner from Norway, inter alia, will contribute by coordination of the pilot version of the innovative system and the assessment of the clients (9th stage of R&D), integration of the beta prototype version under real production conditions. In cooperation with partners, it is envisaged to adapt the product being developed not only in a real environment but also to a commercialization strategy. Which will directly contribute to improving the company''s competitiveness in circular economy technology solutions of the PET preform industry globally.
Summary of project results
Together with growing plastic consumption worldwide the amount of waste is increasing exponentially. Even 39,9% (according to EU 2018 statistics) of produced plastic is consumed in the packaging segment, that means after reaching the final user these products become wastes in the landfills. Even if polyethylene terephthalate (PET - the main plastic used in the food or beverages packaging) is 100% recyclable, manufacturers are quite passive to increase recycled materials in the production. The key challenge when increasing the amount of recycled material in the PET preforms is to maintain high product quality. Also, according to 2019 European Parliament accepted Single-use Plastics Directive, which claims that starting from 2025 year manufacturers of PET bottles will have to include 25% recycled plastic, from 2030 years recycled plastic concentration in final production will have to be – 30%. Therefore the quality control of the production process is becoming even more crucial issue in plastic industry due to strict environmental requirements. This not only confirms the high demand to recycled materials in the PET preforms but also a need for methods and tools which could improve and guarantee high quality control and analysis in production process.
The project had R&D studies in order to improve PET preforms quality control in on-line monitoring and analysis and to increase recycled materials concentration in the production by using machine vision and AI technology. Also, the project developed system''s prototype and beta version named „Express on-line PET preform defects inspection system based on machine vision and AI technology“, which is installed on-site.
The project contributed in increasing the rPET concentration in final preforms by improving production process quality control with on-line defects inspection system. The objective to be achieved – increased rPET ratio in the final production by 25%, 50%, 75% or even 100%.
Summary of bilateral results
Company collaborated with local and international partners to carry out the R&D stages and achieve the main goals. In cooperation with Lithuanian PET preform producer Putoksnis Ltd. and Norwegian consulting and projects management company IDN (International Development Norway).