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AI-powered fire safety at Lobbe
In collaboration with Fraunhofer IIS, we have developed a prototype called Danger.Sort and successfully validated it at Lobbe Recycling GmbH. By combining X-ray technology with smart AI, lithium-ion batteries are reliably detected before they can cause fires in the sorting plant.
About Lobbe
Lobbe Holding GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Iserlohn, is a long-established family-owned company and one of the leading technology providers in the waste management and recycling industry. With a clear focus on sustainability and resource efficiency, Lobbe operates state-of-the-art logistics and processing centers.
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Destination: Test operation of the system at the LVP plant in Iserlohn
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Focus: Maximizing plant safety and the purity of material streams
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Project scope: Part of the AI Hub for Plastic Packaging (K3I-Cycling), funded by the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)
The initial situation
Like the entire recycling industry, Lobbe faces the challenge of an increasing number of lithium-ion batteries being improperly disposed of in the yellow bag. Mechanical forces act on the waste in sorting facilities—if a battery is damaged, it can lead to violent fires that often cause millions in damage to the infrastructure.
To ensure the highest level of protection for employees and the expensive plant technology at the future LVP facility in Menden from the outset, Lobbe sought a solution that would eliminate potential fire hazards (vapes, cell phones, e-bike batteries) right at the start of the sorting process.
The solution: Danger.Sort
The Danger.Sort system was deployed as part of the K3I-Cycling project. The solution combines the Fraunhofer IIS’s hardware expertise with our object recognition AI.
The system uses X-ray technology to scan the material flow. The AI analyzes these images in real time and identifies even hidden batteries and battery-powered devices buried deep within the waste. As soon as a hazardous object is detected, the system triggers a precise pulse that safely removes the battery from the process.
“With the successful commissioning at Lobbe, we are once again demonstrating how AI actively prevents battery fires and protects people, equipment, and the environment.”
Nathanael Laier, Co-Founder and CEO at WeSort.AI
Outlook for the future
Following the successful completion of the test phase in Iserlohn, Lobbe is preparing to integrate the system into the new, state-of-the-art LVP facility in Menden. In doing so, Lobbe is setting a new standard for fire safety in Germany.
For us, this project reaffirms our role as a leading partner for AI-based sorting solutions in complex waste streams.
Would you also like to protect your facility from fire hazards?
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WeSort.AI GmbH
Leightonstraße 3
97074 Würzburg