At the second meeting of the Metal Theme Table of the Circular Value Creation NRW Round Table, representatives from industry, research and politics discussed technological approaches for circular material cycles. Prof. Dr. Markus Lange-Hegermann contributed insights from the inIT projects MetalClass and AlloySort, which deal with AI-supported sensor technology for real-time analysis of metal alloys.
Exchange on technologies and challenges in the metal industry
The meeting took place on 7 November 2025 at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and brought together participants from across the entire value chain. The focus was on aspects such as scrap quality, digital product passports, circular design and modularity, as well as the technological requirements for a circular metal economy. Practical examples from companies such as Outokumpu, ID Lab/offsee and TSR illustrated how circular strategies are already embedded in industrial processes today and the potential that innovative approaches offer.
Impulses from inIT research
Prof. Dr. Markus Lange-Hegermann presented current research results on the non-destructive real-time analysis of metallic secondary raw materials and provided insights into two research projects:
- MetalClass: Development of an AI-supported measurement method based on prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) to classify copper and aluminium scrap in real time. The aim is to precisely record the composition of heterogeneous material streams and identify impurities.
- AlloySort: Further development of PGNAA analysis for targeted sorting on the conveyor belt. New AI evaluation methods are used to reliably evaluate high-resolution but noisy sensor data and integrate it into industrial processes.
Both projects address key challenges that were also discussed at the round table: improving scrap quality, ensuring material streams are sorted by type, and the need to support circular strategies with accurate digital data.
Looking ahead together
In the concluding discussion, participants confirmed that technological innovations – particularly in the areas of sensor technology, data quality and AI-based analysis – are key levers for a circular metal economy. At the same time, it became clear that progress can only be achieved through cooperation between industry, research and politics.
‘The discussions showed how great the need is for reliable, real-time analyses in recycling processes. Our research in this area makes an important contribution to this,’ summarises Prof. Dr. Markus Lange-Hegermann. ‘The theme table offers a valuable platform for pooling perspectives and working together on practical solutions.’
The next meeting of the Metal Theme Table is planned for March 2026.