China’s First AI Hyperspectral Film Sorter: Achieving Precise Film Sorting from MSW

Film recycling has become a global focus in the resource recovery industry. However, due to its lightweight, thin, flexible, and multilayer composite nature, film waste remains one of the most challenging materials to recycle. The global recycling rate for plastic films is still below 30%, with a large portion ending up in landfills or incineration, resulting in both resource loss and environmental impact.

In response to this challenge, DATABEYOND has independently developed the FASTSORT-FILM-AI-SPEC, an AI hyperspectral optical sorter specifically engineered for film separation. The system integrates three core technologies to deliver highly efficient film sorting performance.

01. Innovative Aerodynamic Design

Uniform, flattened, and stable conveyance for lightweight materials

The FASTSORT-FILM-AI-SPEC features an original aerodynamic architecture that actively suppresses internal turbulence, ensuring lightweight materials—such as films, foams, flexible packaging, and sponges—are evenly distributed and stably conveyed at high speed.

To enhance throughput, the belt speed has been increased from 3.5 m/s to 4.2 m/s, boosting sorting capacity by approximately 1.2 times while maintaining precision.

02. Newly Designed Collection Bin for Optimal Flight Trajectory

Minimizing flotation, turbulence, and backflow

The system adopts a newly developed collection bin design that precisely controls airflow to create an optimal flight path for sorted lightweight materials. This ensures accurate deposition into the corresponding recovery bins and significantly reduces material flotation, turbulence, and remixing—delivering consistent, high-purity outputs.

03. AI + SPEC Dual Recognition System

Material and color identification in one integrated process

By combining AI vision sensors with advanced Hyperspectral Sensor technology (SPEC), the FASTSORT-FILM-AI-SPEC achieves precise recognition and separation of different plastic film types, including PE, PET, PP, and PVC. The system achieves a film sorting accuracy of approximately 90%, far exceeding that of traditional film sorting solutions.

Two Models to Meet Diverse Capacity Needs

To better serve various processing capacities and line configurations, DATABEYOND offers two model options within the FASTSORT-FILM-AI-SPEC range.

(Note: Performance data may vary depending on input material composition. Custom configurations are available for specific application requirements.)

Model Naming Explained:

FASTSORT — DATABEYOND’s high-speed belt optical sorter series

FILM — Designed for plastic film separation

AI — Integrated AI recognition system

SPEC — Hyperspectral Sensor technology

20 — 2-meter effective belt width

6 — 6-meter effective belt length

Proven Performance Across Asia and Europe

The FASTSORT-FILM-AI-SPEC has already been successfully deployed in multiple cities and regions, including:

Beijing, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Incheon (Korea), Noida (India), Toyama (Japan), Eastern Europe, and Gomel (Belarus).

With its AI-driven precision, aerodynamic efficiency, and hyperspectral intelligence, DATABEYOND continues to redefine what is possible in film recycling — turning one of the industry’s toughest materials into a high-value recyclable resource.