Apple creates recycling robot to boost green credentials
Wednesday, April 6, 2016 - 13:48:25
During Apple's recent launch event for the iPhone SE, the company also took the time to emphasise its ecological intentions and ensure that the devices it builds are more sustainable.
The most noteworthy part of this affirmation of its green credentials came in the form of a robot called Liam, which the company has built in order to carry out comprehensive iPhone disassembly so that recycling old handsets is quicker and easier than ever, according to Mashable.
While this robotic recycling solution may only just have been announced, Apple has actually been working on it since 2012. And in its current form, Liam is able to precisely dismantle modern iPhones without doing damage to the components or materials within.
With 29 arms and an array of tools and attachments, Liam is currently one of a kind. But Apple is apparently intending to mimic its design and functionality with a replica to be built in Europe in the coming months.
With the ability to disassemble an entire iPhone in just 11 seconds, this robot should be able to blast through almost 8,000 old handsets each and every day, without stopping for a break at any point. And there are a number of benefits to this subtle approach to recycling, chief among which is the elimination of the need to shred unwanted devices to reclaim the valuable minerals they contain.
Furthermore, this robot allows the battery to be removed safely and in a less labour-intensive manner, preventing harmful substances from contaminating the environment.
It is good to see Apple doing more to make selling old iPhones worthwhile, since customers can now be confident that their devices will be dealt with in a way that does not have a negative impact on the rest of the planet.
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