Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) has named Matthias Erdmannsdoerfer the managing director of Max-AI. Prior to this new role, Erdmannsdoerfer served more than six years as president of National Recovery Technologies (NRT), a developer of optical sorting technology and subsidiary of BHS.

As managing director, Erdmannsdoerfer will be responsible for the Max-AI product line, including sales, business development and product and application development.

Max-AI technology employs artificial intelligence (AI) to recognize materials similar to the way a person does. Launched by BHS in 2017, Max-AI technology powers robotic sorters, optical sorters and reporting systems and will continue to be integrated into new and existing equipment throughout materials recovery facilities (MRFs). Since its inception, more than 50 Max-AI AQC (autonomous quality control) robotic sorters have been sold in quality control applications of both fiber and containers. Recently, NRT announced the SpydIR with Max-AI, an optical sorter that also uses Max-AI technology to create new sort options and increases overall recovery and purity.

“Max has entirely changed the way we look at processing waste,” said Erdmannsdoerfer in a statement. “This is one of those technologies that is so disruptive that it will transform our industry the same way NRT’s optical sorters did more than 20 years ago. I’m currently building out Max’s human team to work with me as we continue to help our customers benefit from all that Max is capable of.”

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“Matthias has been instrumental to the development of both NRT’s technology and its global footprint,” said BHS CEO Steve Miller in a statement. “The overwhelming success of Max-AI technology demands the resources of a team and dedicated, focused leadership. Matthias’ expertise and success working with all of our companies and systems, including with Max from the beginning, will accelerate our deployment of Max.”