Innovate UK Backs SortFlow
We’re pleased to share that Innovate UK has published a feature on SortFlow AI Mapper (SortFlow TWIN), highlighting the journey from an early spreadsheet concept to a live AI-powered digital twin used in operational recycling plants.
The article explores how support from Innovate UK helped us develop AI Mapper into a real-time monitoring tool for Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). What began as a modelling exercise evolved into a platform capable of combining data from optical sorters and AI vision systems to provide minute-by-minute insight into plant efficiency and profitability.
For operators, this visibility can make a tangible difference. By understanding how materials are moving through a plant — and where value may be lost — teams are able to identify inefficiencies that would otherwise remain hidden. In one case, the system helped uncover process issues that were costing thousands of pounds per shift in lost recoverable material.
The feature also reflects on the pilot work carried out with industry partners, including Biffa, and the broader recognition the project received through the Materials Recycling World Innovation Award.
We’re grateful for Innovate UK’s support in helping transform an early idea into a practical, industry-ready digital twin solution.
You can read the full Innovate UK article here:
