ABB Partners with US Start-up to Build Robot Microfactory Tackling E-Waste

Calculated more sustainably ABB Partners with US Start-up to Build Robot Microfactory Tackling E-Waste

2024-10-23 Source: ABB | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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ABB Robotics and the US start-up Molg are developing robot-assisted microfactories in which disused electronic devices from data centers can be collected and recycled.

ABB Robotics and Molg want to help reduce the growing mountain of electronic waste. This is to be done with so-called microfactories in which robots work. As the partners emphasize, the benefits will not only contribute to the goal of a circular economy.(Image: ABB) — ABB Robotics and Molg want to help reduce the growing mountain of electronic waste. This is to be done with so-called microfactories in which robots work. As the partners emphasize, the benefits will not only contribute to the goal of a circular economy.
(Image: ABB)

With global e-waste predicted to rise to 75 million tons by 2030, the type of micro-factory now being built by ABB and Molg will play an important role in reducing e-waste. At the same time, data centers will be supported in becoming more efficient and sustainable. With Molg, ABB is opening up new applications for industrial robotics in a growing segment that focuses on the circular economy and sustainability. According to ABB, robot-assisted microfactories enable both the modernization and automated dismantling of equipment in data centers. In addition, through responsible disposal, recycling and reuse of equipment, they would contribute to a more closed-loop circular economy with a wider reach in the data center sector. Last but not least, Molg's robotic microfactory can autonomously assemble and disassemble complex electronic products such as laptops, servers and industrial electronics. The microfactory solution is aimed at hyperscalers, which operate large networks of data centers, as well as companies in the IT asset disposition (ITAD) sector. The solution is part of Molg's broader portfolio of circular economy and component traceability software tools that enable manufacturers to produce products that can be easily disposed of and recycled at end-of-life.

Relief in the e-waste sector in several respects

Advances in data processing, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and the cloud, are making it necessary for data centers to upgrade and expand their facilities more and more frequently, as the partners go on to explain. Today, data centers contribute significantly to the 2.6 million tons of e-waste generated around the world every year. As an alternative to manual dismantling or disposing of devices in landfills or incinerators, microfactories solve many of the problems associated with the disposal of e-waste. And given the increasing regulations for the responsible handling of discarded appliances, this automated dismantling reduces the risks associated with handling pollutants that are harmful to the environment and health, as ABB notes. In addition, many components also contain rare earths. The possibility of maximizing their recovery through automation also offers an economic opportunity to reuse these raw materials. ABB Robotics supports innovation ecosystems through partnerships and venture capital investments. ABB Robotics & Automation Ventures (ABB RA Ventures), for example, invested in Molg's seed round, which was led by the Closed Loop Partners Ventures Group—together with Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, Overture, Elemental Impact and Techstars Ventures, it is reported.
Molg was also recognized by ABB's Drive Technology division as the winner of the ABB Accelerating Circularity Start-up Challenge 2023.

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