BHS expands Max-AI product line

The Max-AI AQC (Autonomous Quality Control) product line from Bulk Handling Systems (BHS), Eugene, Oregon, has expanded with the release of the AQC-2 for paper sorting applications. Max-AI technology employs artificial intelligence (AI) to make material identification and selection decisions while robotic sorters carry out the sorting. The AQC-2 features two robotic sorters and is designed to sort on belt widths up to 72 inches. The release of the AQC-2 complements the earlier release of the AQC-1, BHS says, which has been used to sort containers and contamination in plastics and metals and recover high value items from residue.

The AQC-2 recovers cardboard, containers and plastic film and removes contamination to create a clean news product, BHS says. The AQC-2 complements BHS’ Tri-Disc technology and optical sorters from National Recovery Technologies (NRT), Nashville, Tennessee. BHS says the level of automation possible with Max-AI technology can lower operating costs while adding production and quality capabilities that surpass manual sorting.

“The Max-AI AQC-2 fills a sizeable hole in the marketplace,” Steve Miller, BHS CEO, says. “The NRT ColorPlus does an exceptional job of recovering most of the cardboard that, due to the increase of online shopping, has infiltrated the news stream. While it doesn’t make financial sense to add another optical sorter to remove the remaining small cardboard, it does make sense to add the AQC-2, equipment that will recover the remaining cardboard while at the same time removing other commodities or contaminants from the news stream. The results have been excellent, and the investment really pencils out. We are thrilled to have a solution for our customers that creates clean news with zero labor and provides a fast return on their investment.”