Every year, roughly 250 million flat screens are sold worldwide, and eventually every single one needs recycling. The problem is that LCDs contain mercury and liquid crystals — nasty stuff you don't want leaking into landfills or hurting workers who take them apart by hand. Votechnik built a robotic machine that automatically dismantles LCD screens at 60 units per hour, safely capturing all the hazardous materials — compared to just 5 screens per hour by hand. They deployed working systems in Ireland, mainland Europe, and the USA so recyclers can see the machine in action before buying.
E-waste recyclers are legally required to remove mercury and liquid crystals from LCD screens before shredding, but manual disassembly is painfully slow at 5 screens per hour, expensive, and exposes workers to toxic mercury vapour. The only alternatives on the market are semi-automated systems that still need manual labour for mercury tube separation (12 LCDs/hr) or large-scale shredders that only make economic sense at 1 tonne per hour of mixed mercury waste.
Votechnik built the ALR4000: a fully automated robotic LCD dismantling system operating at 60 LCDs per hour with safe mercury capture. They manufactured and deployed complete working systems at three reference sites — one in Ireland, one for continental Europe, and one for the USA market — and ran live demonstrations for recyclers and potential buyers.
If you are an e-waste recycler still using manual labour to strip mercury tubes from LCD panels — this project built a fully automated robotic system that processes 60 LCDs per hour, compared to 5 per hour by hand. That means one machine replaces roughly 12 manual workers while eliminating their exposure to mercury. Demonstration units are already running at reference sites in Europe and the USA.
If you are a materials recovery company looking to extract liquid crystals and transition metals from discarded screens — this project developed automated depollution technology that cleanly separates hazardous components at industrial speed. At 60 LCDs per hour, you get consistent material streams without contamination from manual handling errors. Replica systems have been completed for both EU and USA markets.
If you are an electronics manufacturer dealing with WEEE directive obligations to properly recycle your products at end of life — this project created a turnkey robotic solution your contracted recyclers can install. It handles the most problematic step: safe removal of mercury-containing CCFLs and liquid crystal sheets. The technology was demonstrated to recyclers and potential purchasers at reference sites across three markets.
The project does not disclose the purchase price of the ALR4000 system. However, the EU contributed EUR 1,941,519 to develop TRL 8 units and deploy three reference systems, which gives a rough sense of the R&D investment per unit. Contact the manufacturer Votechnik directly for commercial pricing.
The system processes 60 LCDs per hour in a fully automated cycle. Compared to 5 per hour for manual disassembly and 12 per hour for semi-automated alternatives, this is a significant throughput increase. Multiple units can be deployed at a single facility to scale capacity further.
Votechnik (ALR Innovations Limited) is the sole developer and IP owner — this was a single-company SME Instrument project with no consortium partners. Based on available project data, the company targets direct sales of the machine rather than licensing the technology.
Yes, directly. The WEEE directive requires that hazardous components like mercury-containing CCFLs and liquid crystal sheets be removed from LCDs before further processing. The ALR4000 automates exactly this depollution step, with safe capture of mercury. This eliminates the worker health risk from manual handling of mercury tubes.
The project deployed working systems at three reference sites covering North EU, South EU, and USA markets. Replica systems for EU and USA have been completed, and the Irish system has been manufactured. Demonstrations were conducted for recyclers and potential purchasers at these sites.
The machine separates mercury-containing CCFLs, liquid crystal sheets, and transition metals as distinct output streams. Based on available project data, the primary value is in safe depollution rather than material recovery revenue, though clean separation does enable downstream recovery of critical raw materials.
The project targeted 10 sales from the demonstrations before its close date in March 2023. Demonstration units are operational at reference sites. Contact Votechnik via their website (votechnik.com) for current availability and delivery timelines.
This is a single-company project — ALR Innovations Limited (trading as Votechnik) from Ireland is the sole participant, funded under the SME Instrument Phase 2. That means Votechnik owns all the IP and makes all commercial decisions without consortium politics. The 100% industry ratio and SME status signal a company laser-focused on getting a product to market, not writing academic papers. For a potential buyer, this simplifies negotiations: you deal with one company, one decision-maker, one contract.
ALR Innovations Limited (Votechnik), Ireland — reachable via votechnik.com
Want an introduction to Votechnik's team to discuss the ALR4000 for your recycling operations? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right person.
