Sina Science and Technology News Beijing time at noon on January 11, according to ReutersAppleIt is planned to use robots to disassemble iPhone to recover and reuse minerals in order to change the way electronic products are recycled. However, the growing global demand for electronics means that manufacturers still need to mine new mines.
AppleThe company wants to become a "closed-loop" manufacturer that does not have to rely on the mining industry, and robots are part of the plan, it said. For Apple Inc's bold goal, some industry analysts believe that it is unlikely to be achieved.
In an obscure warehouse outside Austin, Texas, Apple Inc's Daisy robot was used to disassemble iPhone to extract and recover 14 minerals, including lithium. Apple Inc already uses recyclable aluminum, tin, cobalt and rare earths in some products and plans to use more recyclable minerals in the coming years.
The Daisy robot, which is less than 20 yards long, takes four steps to remove the battery on the iPhone before ejecting screws and modules, including a tactile feedback monitor used to generate phone vibrations. The parts are then sent to recyclers to extract the minerals. Daisy can disassemble 200 iPhone per hour. Apple Inc said that in 2017, Austin's robots handled a total of 1 million iPhone.
Lisa Jackson, the company's director of environment, policy and social activities, said Apple Inc chose iPhone as the first product to be dismantled by Daisy because of the popularity of the iPhone.
Apple Inc is also considering sharing Daisy technology with other companies, including electric car makers. However, some people have questioned the use of Daisy. For example, many people in the technology circle think that Daisy is more like a public relations stunt of Apple Inc.
"they think they can recover all the minerals, but it's almost impossible," said Kyle Wiens Venance, chief executive of iFixit. IFixit is a company dedicated to repairing rather than discarding iPhone and other electronic products.
This may also explain why mining companies have nothing to fear.
"Apple Inc is in an advantageous position because they have the ability," said Tom Butler (Tom Butler), chairman of the International Mining and Metals Committee of the Industrial Trade Organization. "but not everyone has the ability to follow suit."
More mining executives also pointed out that the growing popularity of electric cars means that demand for newly mined minerals will continue to expand, which Apple Inc does not deny.
"We're not competing with mining companies," said Apple Inc's Lisa Jackson. "they have nothing to worry about." (Xiaobai)