Sortera raises $30.5 million for AI-based metals recycling
AI metals-sorting company Sortera Technologies closed a $30.5 million Series C round led by RA Capital Management-Planetary Health. Advances in automated metals recycling could reshape global scrap flows, relevant to India's large secondary-metals and aluminium recycling sectors.
Sortera Technologies closed a $30.5 million Series C round led by RA Capital Management-Planetary Health, with participation from T. Rowe Price Associates, the Mineral Resources Group of Mitsubishi Corporation, and Macquarie GIG Energy Transition Solutions. Existing investors Assembly Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Chrysalix also contributed. Sortera's platform uses artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced sensors to sort complex materials including pre-production aluminium and end-of-life mixed metals into single alloy streams.
The development affects metals producers, manufacturers seeking recycled feedstock, and scrap exporters. Sortera's first full-scale facility in Markle, Indiana is on track to handle up to 220 million pounds of mixed metals annually, expected fully operational in 2023. By sorting mixed metals into single-alloy streams, the company enables increased recycled-material use, reduces metals-production costs and emissions, and decreases scrap aluminium exports. The metals and recycling markets it targets have a combined value over $1 trillion.
Indian recyclers and aluminium manufacturers should monitor how AI-driven sorting affects scrap economics and the value of exported feedstock, since the technology aims to capitalise on domestic feedstocks traditionally exported for lower-grade recycling. Series C funds will expand operations across North America, with R&D at a facility in Austin, Texas. The company, recently renamed from Sortera Alloys, plans to build a network of sorting and processing facilities handling broader recyclable materials.
Key figure — Series C funding: $30.5 million; Markle facility capacity 220 million pounds annually
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