Artificial intelligence will take centre stage at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRSE) exhibition and conference at RAI Amsterdam on 5-6 May 2026. A dedicated AI Innovation Hub will showcase the latest AI-driven solutions in plastics recycling in an immersive experience, guiding visitors across the full value chain from feedstock and product design to collection, processing, and material sourcing. Live demonstrations will include swarm-robot sorting technology from Netherlands-based robotics and AI startup Antfarm and a phone-based AI material analysis solution from UK-based recyclables trading platform Safi.
Swarm Sorting Demonstration
Antfarm will showcase a major step forward in robotic waste sorting technology with its Swarm Alpha fleet of 6-10 robots that sort real-world waste streams including bottles, cans, and cartons.
Also launched at PRSE will be Antfarm Beta, a next-generation system designed to sort up to 10 times faster than Alpha. Antfarm Beta introduces a fundamentally different approach, with robots picking individual objects and placing them into onboard bins until full, enabling dramatically higher throughput.
The demonstration will also highlight Antfarm’s real-time vision system powered by advanced AI models, enabling accurate material recognition as sorting happens. A live dashboard will provide clear insights into system performance, including material types sorted, picks per minute, and revenue metrics.
Antfarm Co-founder & CEO Sébastien Willems says, “Compared to 2025, this year’s demonstration represents a major step change in both the range of materials that can be handled and the overall picking speed, underlining rapid progress in system throughput and maturity. Visitors will be amazed by how far our swarm has come.”
Phone-based AI Material Analysis Demonstration
Declan Clancy, Head of Product at Safi, has outlined how visitors will be able to interact with its latest AI innovation: “You will be able to use AI on a phone to analyse a typical bale of recycled PET material. You will be able to see the AI working live and try it for yourself.”
AI is revolutionising recycling by streamlining material selection, product design, and collection routes. It improves sorting accuracy, reduces manual labour, and optimises facility performance to cut costs and environmental impact. AI platforms connect recyclers with processors, optimise pricing, and support data-driven decisions, while blockchain ensures full traceability and transparency.
To attend the exhibition and conference, register online at https://www.prseventeurope.com Registration is free until 5 April 2026.
