Industry News

Lithium-ion batteries hidden in waste streams are one of the fastest-growing fire risks in the recycling industry. A single damaged cell can ignite an entire facility, and as more devices reach end of life, the problem keeps growing. At the same time, recyclers are under pressure to recover more value from the materials that pass through their plants, including the wide mix of metals and alloys found in electronic waste.

Litech tackles both challenges with a single sensor based on Magnetic Induction Spectroscopy (MIS). Mounted underneath the conveyor belt, the sensor can be retrofitted to existing sorting lines without rebuilding the plant. As material passes overhead, it detects lithium-ion batteries in real time, so hazardous objects can be flagged and removed before they have the chance to start a fire. The same sensor does more than spot batteries. It can tell different metals and alloys apart, opening the door to far more precise sorting and classification of e-waste (WEEE) and metal scrap. For recyclers, that means fewer fires, more recovered material, and cleaner output fractions that command better prices. Founded in 2021 and based in Oslo, Litech already has its sensor installed at Oslo Municipality's waste sorting plant, where it detects nitrous oxide (N2O) canisters in the waste stream.

This autumn the company begins a new pilot focused on lithium-ion battery detection, and is now exploring electronics and metal recycling as a new application area, where battery safety and material classification go hand in hand. At E-waste Expo, Litech will run a live demo of its sensor, giving visitors a chance to see real-time battery and metal detection for themselves and discuss how it could fit their own lines. Stop by the Litech stand to see the technology in action and talk through your specific sorting and safety challenges.

Meet Li-tech AS' team at Stand s10a or visit their website for more information.

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Join us on 17–18 June 2026 at Messe Frankfurt, Germany, for the industry’s most influential gathering of recycling companies, critical raw material suppliers, electronics and battery manufacturers, and ITAD specialists. This free-to-attend exhibition and conference grants you the unique opportunity to gain access to 4 co-located shows: E-Waste World Expo, Battery Recycling Expo, Metal Recycling Expo, and ITAD & Circular Electronics Expo. 

The information within the copy was supplied by Li-tech AS.