Sortera Alloys opens office in Austin, Texas

Sortera Alloys Inc. has opened a new office in Austin, Texas, that will focus on advancing technology in the recycling industry.

Markle, Indiana-based Sortera says the Austin office will house its research and development team, which is working to evolve its technologically advanced sorting platform. The company’s sorting technology consists of vision and other advanced hardware sensors that are driven by software using artificial intelligence.  

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According to a news release from Sortera, it selected Austin as the location for the new facility because of its thriving technology ecosystem and the presence of leading companies in AI and related fields. 

“It is an exceptional place to foster growth and a culture of environmentally conscious development of innovative technologies,” says Manuel Garcia Jr., co-founder and vice president of AI and Data Science for Sortera Alloys. “By using the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, Sortera is creating a more sustainable, efficient and automated recycling process, bringing lightning-speed changes to a decades-old industry. We are looking for exceptional people who want to be a part of this transformation to join our already strong team.”

Sortera says its technology currently handles the complex sorting of preproduction aluminum and end-of-life mixed alloys by category and chemical composition. The new Austin facility will focus on the multitude of other materials that can be recycled back into the economy and ways in which Sortera’s technology can expand its sorting capabilities to ensure these valuable materials can be put back into the supply chain.

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“We are perfectly situated to seize the momentum of our proven technology platform and research talent to target and recycle additional key materials into high-quality feedstock,” says Michael Siemer, CEO of Sortera Alloys. “This will both expand our reach as a key player in the mixed alloy industry and establish our leadership role in the global circular economy movement. Given our technology platform’s success in the aluminum industry, we are excited to establish this new R&D facility to apply it to other industries where novel circular economies can be created, such as in the plastics, textile, paper, agricultural and [municipal solid waste] industries.”

According to Sortera, the company’s new processing facility in Markle is on track to open in early summer. The company also plans to attend ISRI2023 April 17-20 at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, exhibiting at booth 1424.