Robots Tackle 75M Tons of E-Waste with ABB and Molg’s Microfactories

[{"selector":"#anim-c8d75cd0-8f3e-403c-9cdd-f537cdea18d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3dc03df-c60a-4d4f-8a03-e82c8dc9043e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 96.58966%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1edb3388-3846-446c-8969-e493790635eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-933481f6-1f42-4773-8030-4591e5d9af96","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2cc4a17d-4bd9-4c35-b82e-94aac581d719","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -155.48566%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Global e-waste crisis looms as projections hit 75 million tons by 2030, with data centers alone generating 2.6 million tonnes annually - what's being done about it? Photo Source: curtis palmer ( CC BY 2.0) Photo Source: curtis palmer ( CC BY 2.0)

Robotic microfactories by ABB Robotics and Molg set to autonomously disassemble servers, laptops, and industrial electronics, reducing landfill waste.

[{"selector":"#anim-4f67c407-cdc5-4514-9049-8be8fd6e0bcd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-126d8117-7458-475c-abb4-fb16cd625bee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 236.11093%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0bddb4e4-71d9-4997-991a-ec702d6290e5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-933e6977-5be6-4959-8af9-b837d793e6c2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3deef85-39bf-4ff8-80ad-324da2987e79","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bac5d98b-9774-44e1-a275-e28d0f7ddca1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b44e153d-2ca8-4d67-981d-a022396e43ef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ana 2016 ( CC BY-SA 4.0) Photo Source: Ana 2016 ( CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-f3c9abd0-76a8-498a-9a16-9ad4e2973a20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c39d9eb-1a2b-4133-ad36-e7c5390ef63a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 97.82729%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-819628cf-dd0f-4422-9d02-f8e02962a68b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7eb44c4e-e58d-43b1-9374-96fa519a569f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -155.48566%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-947c0168-f40b-45d0-bff4-00bdd10158b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] AI and cloud computing advancements force frequent data center upgrades, but automated recycling could turn this challenge into an opportunity. Photo Source: Peter17 ( CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo Source: Peter17 ( CC BY-SA 3.0)

How will these robots safely extract valuable rare earth elements from toxic e-waste while protecting worker health?

[{"selector":"#anim-1813323f-897d-495b-ade1-3dbb4440c517","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e14bc57-369d-41bd-8306-bb91eb3664e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-554a438b-5dfa-4286-84e5-a33061eff87c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ca69e6c-9cff-4a2f-955a-fb72430fcd14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dad3e990-894f-47fe-b05e-a2297c308fa1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ef169fa-7cd9-4823-b754-130728111b77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ac62fe2-ea9a-4a33-950b-c9c255a7d87a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 236.11093%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Dependability ( CC BY-SA 4.0) Photo Source: Dependability ( CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-4c04f911-c64a-499b-932b-4391467ef3d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a218d1c7-c270-428d-81e9-7b803bf33c3d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 96.58966%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd724490-a2c2-4efd-8f0a-29e31b528085","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d9abf6c-fdd4-40aa-a0e1-8fd06a4d0cdc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -155.48566%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2efc4973-17dd-4d41-9be0-cffce1c2ab77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] "Sustainable, circular manufacturing processes" planned for electronics recycling, says Molg CEO Rob Lawson-Shanks after securing major investment. Photo Source: Peter17 ( CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo Source: Peter17 ( CC BY-SA 3.0)

ABB Robotics joins forces with Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, Overture, Elemental Impact and Techstars Ventures to back Molg's e-waste solution.

[{"selector":"#anim-48432da4-f164-494c-98d3-f97e565febbc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a894e56-e2ea-4bbb-a1a1-e0706ae18959","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-785b74cb-e1e1-4b67-abd9-47ec0ba7a157","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72bca727-153b-40c3-984f-187dc4056d2a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc6de0c4-6f40-4f18-bdb7-c52fad9981b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c4497c9-af27-4241-9148-f5473929471e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97e9b991-5da9-4e96-9882-58f7fe99e31e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 236.11093%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Peter17 ( CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo Source: Peter17 ( CC BY-SA 3.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-49aaac93-5f16-4f9e-865b-4d07ab471b29","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-389b8833-623a-4aa6-98df-c8ea9129ede7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 96.58966%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb33cec4-8c5a-47cc-bd44-3342ee3434fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05d33d6e-fd5a-4b1c-94ef-cfbc4efc9b59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -155.48566%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86294f1f-8a34-46f6-8876-7c7a5f780f1c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Component traceability software enables manufacturers to design products specifically for future disassembly and recycling. Photo Source: Projekt ANA ( CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo Source: Projekt ANA ( CC BY-SA 3.0)

Microfactories target hyperscalers and IT Asset Disposition companies handling large-scale data center equipment disposal.

[{"selector":"#anim-6be7d746-3f4d-4722-8b32-4c7099b7d4b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34d83eec-8c8d-4c3f-9d61-6a56b9d439e4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45d77130-7e48-486b-83a5-5099f525d69f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35ddc26c-db3e-48c9-9b46-8f88bc277527","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00611aec-2cb4-4d42-a63e-34ecb2a741d0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ecd5833-35ba-44ef-adb2-4b57f688dd64","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57973843-c606-41fd-870b-65c7b9a8fd6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 236.11093%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Auledas ( CC BY-SA 4.0) Photo Source: Auledas ( CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-a1f8a0e6-0067-4a40-99ea-011101a2d1bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d119989e-29f6-4ab5-902c-133f28762cb4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 96.58966%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1bc05ae-8ed3-4fe0-9186-e22029343277","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c9cc6ac-da94-4b00-898c-5e7223be939b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -155.48566%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2bad725-7966-4ec2-b19f-dabb47805277","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Environmental regulations drive automated e-waste handling as data centers seek compliant recycling methods for decommissioned hardware. Photo Source: Auledas ( CC BY-SA 4.0) Photo Source: Auledas ( CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-f7c4993f-0411-459c-8ab9-437341f5e95b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96c7f8de-cc9d-4bc6-a869-45d90725f823","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 99.59280%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31618228-cfad-4d18-8313-894d80e231c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f0f3c0e-9c5c-420f-a579-c43fcff19e3a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 871.75821%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a83bc57-d88b-4b1c-b249-47c879c718f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e88213db-6023-49bb-a217-7802dc205fde","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -214.44452%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e68ead5-b38e-4695-893e-897f8e984d6d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75cd6d5f-085b-4564-a00b-7deb90c16ee0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41c9aa8e-31b3-4526-aa88-ca65174e4f95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-800d5f74-2098-4dd7-bd19-6bcdbe101993","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Robots Tackle 75M Tons of E-Waste with ABB and Molg’s Microfactories

Robotic microfactories by ABB Robotics and Molg set to autonomously disassemble servers, laptops, and industrial electronics, reducing landfill waste.

How will these robots safely extract valuable rare earth elements from toxic e-waste while protecting worker health?

ABB Robotics joins forces with Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, Overture, Elemental Impact and Techstars Ventures to back Molg's e-waste solution.

Microfactories target hyperscalers and IT Asset Disposition companies handling large-scale data center equipment disposal.

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AI Hardware Could Add Millions of Tons to E-Waste as 78% Ends Up in Landfills