ABB Robotics has announced a collaboration with US startup Molg to develop robotic microfactories that can refurbish and recycle faulty data center equipment. According to Datacenter Dynamics, Molg’s microfactories autonomously assemble and disassemble complex electronic devices such as servers, laptops and industrial electronics.
Since many of these devices contain rare earth elements, automating their recycling will provide certain economic benefits – the materials can be used in new devices. Microfactories are intended for hyperscalers managing large networks of data centers, and companies engaged in the disposal of various IT assets (IT Asset Disposition companies).
Interest in new developments is fueled by significant progress in computer technology. As a result, there is an urgent need to update equipment at hyperscaler facilities more regularly, which leads to the generation of electronic waste in large volumes.
Image source: Molg
ABB’s investment will accelerate efforts to create a more sustainable, circular manufacturing process for electronics, ensuring the industry’s circulation of valuable materials and improving supply chain reliability, Molg said.
«The circular approach to data centers has become very popular. By 2030, the world’s e-waste should reach 75 million tons. Micro-recycling plants have an important role to play in reducing such waste – and will also support more efficient and sustainable operations in the data center sector.
As a result of the development of sustainable approaches to recycling, hyperscalers have increased their investments in recycling companies. Thus, Microsoft invested in Cyclic Materials, a REE-controlled startup specializing in the recycling of hard drives. Seagate has also come to the restoration and cleaning of used HDDs. Lenovo is ready to sell refurbished PCs and servers. Amazon has created an entire factory to refurbish and recycle its own server hardware. And Meta✴ is even experimenting with technologies for recycling construction waste using mushrooms.