Canon Introduces Raman Analyser for Advanced Plastic Recycling to Promote the Circular Economy
Canon Introduces Raman Analyser for Advanced Plastic Recycling to Promote the Circular Economy
SINGAPORE, 18 March 2026 — Canon today announced the launch of its groundbreaking Raman plastic analyser, the TR-A100, in Southeast Asia1. Equipped with advanced material identification technology, the innovative Raman plastic sorting equipment will significantly advance Canon's commitment to a circular economy by maximising material recycling across the region.
Effective plastic recycling requires high material purity, meaning materials like ABS and polypropylene (PP) must be accurately identified. However, conventional near-infrared spectroscopy has limitations identifying black plastics, commonly found in electronics and automotive upholstery, due to their light-absorbing properties. This challenge has historically hindered efficient recycling processes; a critical bottleneck that Canon's new technology directly addresses.
The TR-A100 plastic analyser employs an advanced laser scanning method that helps to enhance material identification. This technique oscillates the laser irradiation position, even when analysing multiple plastics on a tray, to reduce energy density. This enables the identification of plastics without causing damage due to rising temperature. By ensuring sufficient, tailored measurement time, the TR-A100 can accurately identify even black plastics, which typically present weak signals to other technologies.
"The inability to efficiently sort black plastics has been a significant barrier to achieving a truly circular economy within Southeast Asia." commented Kobe Kazuhiro, Senior Director, Industrial Product, Canon Singapore. "Canon has been prioritising extending the lifecycle of materials, avoiding unnecessary waste and embracing circularity. Our new TR-A100 Raman plastic analyser directly helps us achieve this by offering unprecedented efficiency and speed, drastically improving recycling purity."
The TR-A100 can rapidly identify plastic types and determine the proportion (number) of target plastics present within the measured plastic sample. The results from the Raman plastic analyser can then be utilised by recycling plants to further refine purity by optimising their collection and sorting conditions, thereby contributing to a substantial increase in the volume of material recycled.
About Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies. Besides handling the domestic market, the company covers 22 other countries and regions. The parent company Canon Inc. has a global network of more than 300 companies and employs about 165,000 people worldwide. Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.
More information is available at https://sg.canon.
1 Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
