Events and Trade Shows

WS#59 Sustainable Manufacturing Key Technologies and Challenges of Robotic Disassembly for a Circular Future

Organizers: Sharath Chandra Akkaladevi, Profactor GMBH, Austria, Iñaki Díaz, Male, CEIT, Spain, Daniel Gossen, Male, di.monta | RWTH Aachen University, Markus Schmitz, Male, di.monta | RWTH Aachen University, José Saenz, Fraunhofer IFF, Germany , Patrick Courtney, tec‐connection, UK, Ilya Tyapin, University of Agder, Norway

Main questions to be answered

• How can robotic and AI‐enabled disassembly systems efficiently identify, separate, and recover components from complex assemblies while ensuring traceability and reusability?
• What are the key robotic technologies and skills required for safe, effective, and adaptive disassembly
• Which current approaches are working well, which need improvement, and which limitations are fundamental or unchangeable?
• How can reconfigurable and low‐cost robotic systems be designed to enable flexible dismantling across different product types and manufacturing sectors?
• How can the transition from manual to robotic dismantling remain human‐centered, supporting operator reskilling and acceptance? What role do we foresee for humans in the field of automated disassembly?

WS Content

The workshop explores how robotics and AI can enable circular manufacturing by transforming current manual disassembly processes into intelligent, adaptable, and human‐centered robotic systems. The session will highlight how robotic dismantling technologies contribute to material recovery, reusability, and system reconfiguration across diverse industrial sectors such as batteries, white goods, textiles and magnets. It will showcase ongoing advances from European research projects and industry applications, illustrating both technical progress and remaining challenges in achieving safe, cost‐effective, and sustainable robotic disassembly.

The workshop aims to connect researchers, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to identify overlapping technological, social, and organizational barriers that hinder the adoption of robotic disassembly systems. Through sector‐specific case studies and collaborative group work, participants will discuss what works well, what does not, and what can or cannot be changed when implementing AI‐ and robotics‐based dismantling solutions. The goal is to distill cross‐sector insights that can guide future developments toward scalable, human‐centered, and circular robotic manufacturing practices.

WS Organisation

Short introduction by Markus Schmitz (“From Why to How”, 5 min), setting the context for sustainable and circular manufacturing.

This will be followed by a series of technical stories (20 min) highlighting dismantling challenges and innovations across different sectors:

• Batteries: Markus Ikeda, PROFACTOR GMBH, Austria
• White Goods: Daniel Gossen/Markus Schmitz , di.monta@RWTH Aachen University, Germany
• Magnets: Iñaki Díaz, CEIT, Spain
• Textiles: Ilya Tyapin <ilya.tyapin@uia.no>

After a brief explanation of the group work (10 min) ‐ Moderated by Inaki, Participants will divide into three/four thematic groups (Batteries, White Goods, Magnets, Textiles) for a 30‐minute collaborative session. Each group will identify key enabling technologies, assess what works well or not, and discuss persistent challenges using the “Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed” reflection method.

The workshop will close with a summary and discussion (15 min), consolidating results across groups into shared conclusions and potential cross‐sector synergies.

Intended outcome

Consolidated cross‐sector technology map or challenge overview

Shared understanding of common enablers/barriers in circular robotics

People actively involved (e.g. speakers, panelists, moderators)

Markus Ikeda, PROFACTOR GMBH, Daniel Gossen, di.monta and Markus Schmitz, di.monta, Iñaki Díaz, Male, CEIT, Spain, Ilya Tyapin, University of Agder, Norway

Topic Groups and/or Innovation Networks involved

Sustainability Topic Group; Industrial Robotics; Lab Robotics; AI5 Innovation;