Tomra adds to plastic recycling team

Germany-based technology and equipment provider Tomra Recycling says it has expanded its North American customer support network by adding Eric C. Olsson as a Texas-based area segment manager – plastics.

The newly created position will be dedicated to strengthening Tomra’s plastics business by offering in-depth sorting expertise for customers with an emphasis on plastic flake recycling, says the company.

In his previous work with global petrochemical firm Braskem, Olsson spent five years in process engineering and sustainable development for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) resins. Tomra says he was an integral part of the company’s circular economy team, charged with developing a sustainability strategy and evolving the business model for growth through recycled product offerings.

For Tomra, Olsson will work with plastics companies seeking a more circular model and will help support Tomra’s sales management team in helping customers design the best optical sorting technology configuration to improve process efficiency and recycled plastic product purity.  

“Eric’s education and work history offer a unique combination of in-depth plastics industry experience and a broad background in technical process engineering,” says Ty Rhoad, regional director Americas for Tomra Recycling. “He understands plastic production and recycling processes and will offer customers expert assistance in sorting technology selection. Additionally, his dedication to the circular economy and passion for the recycling industry is in perfect alignment with Tomra’s. We are pleased to have Eric join our growing North American sales, applications and service support team.”

Comments Olsson, who will be based in Austin, Texas, “Tomra Recycling provides the industry superior technologies, process data collection and implementation of deep learning for complex sorting challenges. Joining the TOMRA team puts me closer to the front lines of plastics recycling.”

He continues, “Steps are required to move the needle on industrial ecology and transition from a linear to circular plastics economy, and Tomra is in the position to do this. I’m excited to join a company whose passion for the advancement of the circular economy and closing the loop on plastics is felt throughout every aspect of the business.”

Tomra Recycling, part of Norway-based Systems ASA, designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting technologies for the global recycling and waste management industry. Over 7,400 of its systems have been installed in more than 100 countries worldwide, according to the firm.