The European Robotics Forum 2025 (ERF 2025) in Stuttgart will feature Workshop #45: “Remanufacturing and Recycling – Are Robots the Way to a Sustainable Future?”, a session dedicated to exploring the role of robotics in driving sustainability and circular economy solutions. With growing global emphasis on reducing waste, conserving raw materials, and improving recycling efficiency, industries such as automotive, electronics, and shipbuilding are under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable disassembly and remanufacturing practices. This workshop will address whether current robotic research and innovation are advancing in the right direction to meet these demands.
Can Robots Solve Recycling Challenges?
One of the key discussions in this workshop will revolve around whether existing robotic technologies provide the flexibility, precision, and autonomy needed to evaluate, disassemble, and sort materials efficiently for recycling and remanufacturing. Industry leaders and researchers will assess the biggest technological barriers, such as the lack of adaptable AI models, limitations in robotic dexterity, and the complexity of handling diverse end-of-life (EoL) products.
Attendees will also gain insights into the latest innovations in robotized disassembly and recycling, focusing on electric vehicle (EV) batteries, consumer electronics, metal processing, and ship recycling. With increasing concerns over the depletion of rare earth elements (REEs) and the rising cost of raw materials, robotic disassembly presents an opportunity to recover valuable resources efficiently and safely. The session will highlight how AI, machine vision, and automation can enhance robotic systems, enabling them to handle complex disassembly tasks while maintaining high efficiency and low environmental impact.
Workshop Highlights & Expert Insights
This session brings together experts from leading EU and national projects such as REBELION, RECIRCULATE, BATTEREVERSE, REINFORCE, THESEUS, REEPRODUCE, SOPRANO, AI-PRISM, and SHEREC. Through a series of impulse talks and interactive discussions, participants will examine:
- How AI-driven robotics can improve sustainability in EV battery, electronics, and ship recycling.
- The current limitations of robotic disassembly and potential breakthroughs needed to make robotized remanufacturing a viable industry standard.
- The role of machine vision in robotic recycling processes, including how deep learning and sensor technologies can improve sorting and material recovery.
Workshop Structure & Agenda
25.03.2025
16:00 – 16:05 | Introduction & Scene Setting
- Speaker: Agata Suwala (MTC, United Kingdom)
- Overview: Introduction to the importance of robotic disassembly for sustainability and the challenges currently faced in different industries.
16:05 – 16:34 | Impulse Talks on Industry-Specific Innovations
- 16:05 – 16:13 | Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling – Dr. Alireza Rastegarpanah (The University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)
- 16:13 – 16:21 | Electronics and Electrical Recycling – Dr. Iñaki Díaz (CEIT, Spain)
- 16:21 – 16:29 | Ship Recycling & Disassembly – Berkhan Bayraktar (Boğaziçi University, Türkiye)
- 16:29 – 16:34 | The Role of Machine Vision in Recycling – Dr. Esmaeil Najafi (Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands)
16:34 – 16:42 | Key Challenges & Discussion Points
- Summary of the main barriers and gaps in robotic disassembly technology.
- Identification of pressing research priorities for AI-driven automation in recycling.
16:42 – 17:15 | Interactive Group Discussions
- Participants will work in groups to explore solutions for challenges in EV batteries, electronics, and ship recycling.
- Focus on AI tools and adaptable robotic methods to enhance autonomy and flexibility in disassembly.
- Facilitated by experts from leading EU projects, ensuring real-world relevance and insights.
17:15 – 17:20 | Wrap-Up & Next Steps
- Summarizing key takeaways from group discussions.
- Defining future research priorities to drive robotics for sustainable remanufacturing.
Why Attend & Expected Outcomes
This workshop presents a valuable opportunity for participants to explore the latest advancements in robotics for remanufacturing and recycling, engage with leading European research projects, and contribute to shaping the future of sustainable robotics. Attendees will have the chance to interact with industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers, gaining insights into next-generation robotized disassembly solutions and their applications across various sectors. The session will also serve as a platform for networking with academics, engineers, and sustainability experts, fostering collaboration to enhance robotic circular economy solutions. By the end of the workshop, participants will have identified key technological gaps, defined top research priorities for AI-powered robotic disassembly and waste reduction, and contributed to establishing a cross-sector roadmap for advancing robotics in the circular economy.
Meet the Experts & Speakers
- Agata Suwala (MTC, United Kingdom)
- Dr. Alireza Rastegarpanah (The University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)
- Dr. Iñaki Díaz (CEIT, Spain)
- Dr. Esmaeil Najafi (Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands)
- Berkhan Bayraktar (Boğaziçi University, Türkiye)
- Dr. Enrico Villagrossi (Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy)
EU Projects Represented
- REBELION (Project Website)
- RECIRCULATE (Project Website)
- BATTEREVERSE (Project Website)
- REINFORCE (Project Website)
- THESEUS (Project Website)
- OPTIMINER (Project Website)
- REEPRODUCE (Project Website)
- SHEREC (Project Website)
- Demo Data PRO (National Project)
- AI PRISM (Project Website)
- SOPRANO (Project Website)