Phoenix Surowce Sp. z o.o. is carrying out the project under the EIT RawMaterials KAVA – support program, through EIT RawMaterials CLC East sp. z o.o.

The project acronim: RoboCycler is a strategic acceleration project funded by EIT RawMaterials, running from June 2025 to December 2026. 

Project primary goal is to address the EU’s urgent need for a resilient supply of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) by treating End-of-Life (EoL) products not as waste, but as a resource.

Project title: Robocycler. Recovery of CRM, REE, and strategic metals from WEEE by robotic application

Co-funded by the European Union. Proposal Number 24684.

Project description:

CRM and strategic metals are present in various WEEE. RoboCycler focuses on HDDs as part of WEEE, which pose a challenge as a recycling feedstock is geographicaly disperssed and current processing of HDD by shredding leads to >90% loss of the CRM – mainly REE magnets. The RoboCycler brings into the market a novel robotic solution for HDDs recycling allowing >99% recovery of the CRM, REE.Phoenix, a start-up supported from EITRM, has designed and demonstrated a TRL 6 innovative 100% sustainable 3,5″HDD recycling solution CRMs and REE Magnets (Nd,Pr,Dy,Co). The proposed solution has been awarded with Polish Patent (P.442340), and currently evaluated to EU Patent (EP23198507.8). A startup will be created with the inclusion of EIT RM for the demonstration of the process on additional types of HDDs including 2.5’’ drivers and SSD drivers, and for the disassembled components. The latter components will be offered to the buyers for reuse. Additionally Elektrorecykling S.A. will supply the HDDs and will support the startup with their worldwide sales channels. The process automation with AI will be improved additionally by academic partner Warsaw University of Technology, and SEC will be responsible for the dissemination and diffusion of RoboCycler results to provide a valuable path for the market.