During the initial sorting process, many decisions are not just about the type of material. They also concern the condition of the fabric and the working conditions associated with handling it.
Today, the majority of textile sorting is still done manually. This often means that employees handle materials that are wet, dirty, or moldy. These are tasks that can be difficult to sustain over time. At the same time, these materials can affect the rest of the sorting process if they are not identified and removed early on, which can reduce both the quality and value of subsequent material flows.
Early Identification of Damp Materials
At SorTex, we are investigating how this type of sorting can be done earlier in the process.
The presorting test line at Wargön Innovation incorporates moisture detection based on NIR technology as part of several different sensor-based methods. Using near-infrared spectroscopy, textiles can be analyzed directly on the conveyor belt as the material moves through the system.
This makes it possible to identify materials with a high moisture content without manual handling, while also providing a better basis for subsequent decisions in the sorting process.
A Chain of Decisions
Our experience shows that effective sorting often involves a series of simple but crucial questions:
- Is it even a textile?
- Is the material in a condition that makes it suitable for the next step in the process?
Every single step helps shape the quality of the material streams that will later be used for recycling, redesign, alternative use, or material reuse.
Small details with great significance
At first glance, these questions may seem like minor details. But they are fundamental to how circular textile systems work in practice.
Through testing in real-world material flows, we are beginning to gain a better understanding of the interplay between technology, material quality, and sorting decisions. This provides important insights into how sorting can be developed into the reliable infrastructure on which the circular textile value chains of the future depend.
At SorTex, the work isn’t just about moving materials through a system. It’s also about building the knowledge that makes it possible to create more robust and circular solutions for textiles in practice.
