ROBrix Uses AI to Grade PCBs Before Shredding

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 31, 2026 - ROBOne today introduced ROBrix, an AI-powered sorting system that grades waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) by resource value before they are shredded.

Already operating at a U.S. recycling facility, ROBrix addresses a longstanding challenge in electronics recycling: valuable circuit boards are often destroyed before recyclers determine what metals or reusable components they contain.

As AI infrastructure and data centers expand, growing volumes of electronic equipment will eventually enter the waste stream. Yet conventional PCB recycling often begins by shredding entire boards, making it difficult to determine beforehand which boards contain higher concentrations of valuable metals or components that could potentially be reused.

ROBrix changes that sequence by moving identification and value assessment ahead of shredding.

Inside an enclosed vision chamber, ROBrix uses AI to recognize components on each PCB and identify the board type. Each board type is assigned a predefined resource grade based on its metal content. A high-speed conveyor and sorting system then routes the board into the appropriate bin.

According to ROBOne, ROBrix operates at more than twice the sorting speed of a skilled worker while reducing the need for manual sorting in dusty and potentially hazardous recycling environments.

Instead of treating every circuit board as part of the same material stream, ROBrix provides recyclers with information about each board before it is destroyed.

Once separated by grade, boards can be directed to different recovery processes based on their resource value.

Metal-rich boards can be sent to smelting for the recovery of materials such as gold, silver and copper. Boards containing potentially reusable components can be separated for component harvesting rather than immediately shredded.

This approach helps recyclers determine the most appropriate recovery route for each board and can reduce the loss of valuable materials and reusable components.

“A circuit board should not have to be destroyed before anyone understands what it is worth,” said a ROBOne spokesperson. “ROBrix moves intelligence earlier in the recycling process. By identifying the value of each board before shredding, recyclers can make better decisions about what should be recovered, reused or processed for metals.”

ROBrix also records each board as it moves through the sorting process, creating a standardized board-level dataset that recycling facilities typically do not capture before shredding.

ROBOne estimates that a single ROBrix line can generate records for up to 12 million boards annually. The data can help recycling operators track material flows and provide supporting information for ESG and circular-economy reporting.

The system is already operating at a U.S. facility and has processed tens of thousands of circuit boards, providing ROBOne with real-world operating data beyond laboratory testing.

By combining AI-based recognition, resource-value grading, automated sorting and board-level data collection, ROBrix shifts circuit-board recycling from a process that begins with destruction to one that begins with understanding the value of each board.