Since its founding on April 1, 1972, Tomra has progressed from being a pioneer in automated recycling technology to a company today offering sensor-based solutions which they believe are helping increase sustainability in the industry.
Starting in a small shed in Asker, Norway, the brothers Petter and Tore Planke created a solution to a problem: a local grocer wanted an automated machine that could quickly and easily take back used, empty bottles for recycling. By the end of 1972, the newly created Tomra had installed 29 machines in Norway.
Almost 45 years later, TOMRA in 2016 noted record revenues of approximately €710m, with 90,000 systems installed in over 80 markets worldwide.
TOMRA’s sensor-based solutions are used today in reverse vending, recycling, mining and food sorting. Recycling applications include numerous waste streams and metals in which optical sorters support plant operators with effective recovery and sorting of valuable secondary resources, while Tomra’s food sorting and peeling solutions are utilized to boost food processing capacity, quality, safety, yield and profit.
Stefan Ranstrand, TOMRA President and CEO, said: “Our growth and longevity is due in part to the growing understanding that the world needs to utilize its natural resources in a better way to ensure sustainability. We are proud of the success our company has achieved thus far, and look forward to building on this in the years ahead as we continue to develop cutting-edge solutions for helping our customers meet their business needs and contribute to a better and more sustainable future.”
Optimal resource productivity
“Global resources are under more pressure than ever before,” continues Ranstrand. “A growing population - and increasing consumption - mean finite resources are being used at an unsustainable pace. The world is consuming more resources and producing more waste than nature can replace or absorb each year. Now, more so than ever, the world needs a resource revolution.”
“TOMRA aspires to be a leader in the resource revolution by constantly exploring and enabling new means of optimizing resource productivity. In this way, TOMRA’s sensor-based technology is playing a pivotal role in supporting the circular economy and also helping organizations to increase productivity without having a detrimental impact on the environment.”
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