ABB Robotics has announced a collaboration with US start-up Molg to develop robotic micro-factories to recover and recycle data center operators’ disused electronic equipment (e-waste).
Molg’s robotic micro-factory is designed to autonomously assemble and disassemble complex electronic devices like laptops, servers, and industrial electronics.
Since many of these devices contain rare earth elements (REEs), automating their recovery offers an economic advantage by allowing these materials to be reused in new electronics.
The micro factory solution targets hyperscale companies managing large data center networks and IT Asset Disposition firms.
Interest in the sector has been driven by significant advances in computing, which have necessitated the need for data centers to upgrade their facilities more regularly, leading to ever-increasing levels of e-waste.
Rob Lawson-Shanks, CEO of Molg said: “With this investment from ABB, we can accelerate our work to create more sustainable, circular manufacturing processes for electronics that ensure valuable materials are kept in circulation and enhance supply chain resilience.”
A circular economy approach to data center operations has gained significant traction recently. With global e-waste expected to reach 75 million tons by 2030, micro-factories will be crucial in cutting electronic waste and supporting more efficient and sustainable operations in the data center sector.
As a result, Hyperscalers have invested in recycling firms to shore up their supply chains, such as in July, when Microsoft announced an investment in Cyclic Materials, a REE startup focused on recycling hard drives.