Specim, Spectral Imaging Ltd., a KONICA MINOLTA, INC. Minolta company, has introduced RETEX, an industrial solution combining hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence to identify textile materials and enable automated separation.

Unlike conventional RGB and multispectral vision systems, hyperspectral imaging analyses material-specific spectral signatures, helping distinguish visually similar fibres, complex blends and impurities in real time.

The system identifies cotton, polyester, polyamide, viscose, wool and acrylic, and can detect elastane even in previously unseen blends. It also supports material composition analysis and colour recognition, addressing key challenges in textile sorting and recycling.

RETEX integrates hyperspectral cameras, AI-based classification software and configurable system components. Its modular architecture includes solutions for laboratory analysis, R&D, OEM integration and full-scale industrial material separation.

The technology is designed for integration into existing processing lines, supporting high-throughput textile identification and the recovery of more precisely defined material streams for recycling.

Video: Specim