Optical diagnostic solution for improving sorting of flexible packaging
A novel optical diagnostic system using diffuse reflectance and LED-induced fluorescence to identify sorting failures in flexible packaging. It targets multilayer, metallized, and heavily printed films, providing insights to enhance current sorting technologies.
Overview
The optical diagnostic solution is designed to address sorting failures in flexible packaging, particularly in multilayer, metallized, and heavily printed films. Conventional NIR-based sorting systems often misclassify these types due to interference from inks, coatings, and surface residues. By using diffuse reflectance and LED-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, this technology extracts complementary optical signatures that are not visible to NIR alone. While it is intended for offline characterization rather than real-time sorting, the solution enables comprehensive failure-mode analysis, helping to refine and improve existing sorting strategies.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Utilizes diffuse reflectance (400–1000 nm) and LED-induced fluorescence spectroscopy to capture detailed optical signatures.
- Focused on offline characterization to support failure-mode analysis and material differentiation.
- Proven optical methods ensure reliability and low system complexity.
- Targets multilayer, metallized, and heavily printed films that challenge conventional sorting systems.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 4, indicating that it has been validated in a laboratory environment with a representative set of flexible packaging samples. Future work will focus on analyzing recurring spectral features and offering technical assessments for potential pilot-scale validation.
About ZORTENET PC
ZORTENET P.C. is a Greek start-up based in Athens that focuses on research and development in the fields of 5G networks, virtualization, cybersecurity, and blockchain technologies. The company specializes in creating advanced technical solutions, including network planning, edge computing architectures, and cybersecurity tools such as deep packet inspection and anomaly detection. ZORTENET also develops specialized software applications, including 5G slicing orchestrators supported by distributed ledger technology (DLT) for secure accounting. By leveraging virtualization platforms like OpenStack, Docker, and DevOps practices, the company drives innovation from theoretical research into practical, operational applications.
The company actively participates as a partner in large-scale European collaborative research initiatives, including Horizon Europe projects like HORSE, SEPTON, TRUSTEE, and EVOLVED-5G. Through these engagements, ZORTENET collaborates with international industry partners and academic institutions to address critical challenges in networked medical device security, privacy-preserving computing, and the evolution of 6G wireless ecosystems. These projects demonstrate the company's technical contribution to enhancing security and performance in complex digital infrastructures for enterprise and healthcare sectors.
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