The University of Liège (ULiège) announces the creation of the spin-off company MATVISION, the result of more than ten years of R&D and innovation at the GeMMe laboratory of ULiège, a development carried out in collaboration with industrial partners COMET Group (Mons) and Cilyx (Liège). MATVISION specialises in the development of robotic sorting solutions for industrial waste such as shredded metals, promoting their recycling (circular economy) in the context of the energy and digital transition.
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ased on the technology developed as part of the PICKIT project, MATVISION combines an advanced sensor system (X-ray, infrared, laser and 3D), artificial intelligence and robotics to offer a fast (in a single pass) and accurate sorting solution for different categories of metals. This solution optimises the economic value of the materials thus sorted.
The MATVISION market is primarily made up of industrial recyclers in Belgium, Europe and worldwide. The dismantling of cars and household appliances is the primary source of metal waste for which MATVISION provides an efficient sorting solution, particularly for strategic metals such as copper, aluminium and nickel. There are currently more than 350 car recyclers in Europe, and given the industrial developments based on recycling, the potential market for MATVISION is even larger.
MATVISION is also a service company that studies the feasibility of the most suitable sorting solutions on a case-by-case basis using its unique multi-sensor and multi-output technology. Together with its subcontractors, it then supervises the in situ assembly of the robotic 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 convertible loan of 50,000 euros from imec.istart. MATVISION is preparing to launch a fundraising campaign to secure more than 1 million euros of funding by September in order to give itself the means to realise its ambitions.
A partner from the outset of the GeMMe laboratory at ULiège, the COMET Group carried out the first industrial validation of this robotic 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 metal waste per year (i.e. one billion parts at a 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 programme) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding.
The technology is based on the combination of the development of sensors for recognising materials and high-speed robotic sorting, all driven by its own artificial intelligence.
Combination of different sensors:
The processing of this data is carried out by machine learning, a branch of Artificial Intelligence. After learning the different desired categories (aluminium, zinc, copper, brass, lead, stainless steel, etc.), each new fragment is assigned to a category. The conveyor belt rotates at more than 1 metre per second. MATVISION technology is capable of processing up to 20 types of materials in a single pass. This feature makes MATVISION technology unique in the world because the systems currently used to process metals are only capable of separating two families simultaneously. The 3D acquisition of the parts makes it possible to choose the optimal gripping points for the robots with clamps.
Originally researchers at the GeMMe laboratory, the founders benefited from the support of the Liège entrepreneurial ecosystem to develop their project, which led them to first place in the European EIT Jumpstarter competition (https://eitjumpstarter.eu).
With a vision that has become concrete, the MATVISION team has been supported by the A6K hub to refine its positioning and business model. MATVISION now also benefits from the Imec network, whose expertise and strategic advice will strengthen its international development.
Éric Pirard, full professor at the GeMMe laboratory (Géoressources, Génie Minéral et Métallurgie Extractive, ULiège): ‘The essential is invisible to the eye and only multi-sensor solutions such as that of MATVISION will be able to sort increasingly complex products in the future. By positioning themselves as pioneers in robotic metal sorting techniques, Walloon engineers can hope to play a leading role in the development of the circular economy on an international scale."
Robert Baudinet, co-founder and CEO of MATVISION: ‘After ten years of development and validation with industrial partners, our technology is now mature. It stands out from other systems in the world because of our ability to process a very large quantity of various metal waste 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. ’
Laura Garcia Gonzalez, Start-up Scout - Wallonia, imec.istart: ‘From a macroeconomic point of view, the consumption of raw materials is constantly increasing, while recycling remains largely under-exploited. In a dynamic of reindustrialisation of Belgium and Europe, it is crucial to produce strategic materials as close as possible to our territory in order to reduce our dependence on resources. Belgium has recognised industrial expertise that is essential to strengthening our industrial autonomy. MATVISION responds to this challenge with advanced sorting technology, combining cutting-edge machines and highly intelligent software. It is this unique and innovative combination, with its economic impact and industrial potential, that appealed to us.’
Didier Mattivi, Director of RISE (Research, Innovation, Support and Enterprises), ULiège: ‘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 journey. MATVISION is a perfect illustration 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 the granting of licences, we continue to strengthen all the levers of valorisation to maximise the societal impact of university research.’
Gregory Lewis, R&D Manager at Comet Group: ‘The development and integration of MULTIPICK technology within its business has enabled the COMET Group to reach a new milestone in the purification of its metal flows. From 2023, we will be able to valorise our metals within local sectors, thus contributing to the decarbonisation of our flows. We are delighted that MATVISION can, in this way, help to reduce the environmental impact of the sector and secure strategic resources in Wallonia, Belgium and Europe.’
Guilhem Grimaud, Eco-Innovation Leader at MTB Group: "The robotic sorting solutions offered by MATVISION are truly cutting-edge in the field of recycling. Complementing our shredding and sorting approach at MTB, they enable a multitude of flows to be sorted in a single step. Thanks to the various detection technologies, we have seen a significant increase in recovery and purity rates, particularly in the treatment of complex waste. We see great potential in these solutions to replace complex sorting lines and respond effectively to increasingly heterogeneous waste streams."
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