Tomra R1 from Tomra Systems ASA - multi-feed recycling with 100-can capacity

Reviewed: ad hoc news B2B & Pro desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-26, 02:04. Details in the imprint.

Tomra R1 stands in the supermarket foyer like a quiet metal mouth, the hatch sliding up with a soft hiss as a customer tips in a rattling crate of cans. In seconds the machine chews through the clatter and spits out a neat deposit slip.

Multi-feed design for speed

The Tomra R1 is a multi-feed reverse vending machine built for stores with heavy return traffic and impatient customers. Instead of feeding each can and bottle one by one, users pour up to around 100 containers into the top opening and close the lid.

The machine then takes over, using internal conveyors, imaging and recognition units to count and sort the items while the customer watches a progress bar on the touch display. The process feels surprisingly quiet for the volume handled and reduces queue times noticeably in busy afternoon peaks.

How it changes store operations

Store managers like Oslo-based retailer Kari Nilsen report that the Tomra R1 cuts bottle-return queues that used to snake past the bakery counter on Saturdays. Staff spend less time explaining the system, because the large hatch and on-screen prompts are self-explanatory even for occasional users.

The machine is designed as a front-end module in a larger backroom system where bins or compactors collect the sorted fractions. For chains with multiple stores, this consistency makes the daily rhythm of container pick-up, cleaning and maintenance more predictable.

User experience at the hatch

From the user side, the tactile detail matters: the hatch handle feels solid, the lid glides without jerks, and the rubber-lined opening damps the clanging of glass. Once closed, the system locks until the sequence ends, which reassures parents with children nearby.

A large colour screen walks the customer through the steps, from choosing language to printing the voucher. Error messages stay concrete, pointing to issues like non-deposit containers or foreign barcodes instead of generic codes that confuse casual users.

Technical building blocks

Inside, the Tomra R1 integrates cameras, barcode scanners and shape recognition to distinguish approved deposit containers from ineligible items. This enables support for multiple packaging types, from lightweight aluminium cans to PET bottles and some refillable glass bottles, depending on the local deposit system.

The machine connects to central monitoring software so that service teams can see fill levels, error states and cleaning intervals remotely. For multi-store chains, this helps plan route-based service and reduces unplanned downtime, especially in regions with bottle-return obligations.

Market fit and limitations

The Tomra R1 mainly targets high-volume supermarkets, hypermarkets and large convenience formats in countries with established deposit systems such as Norway, Germany or selected US states. Smaller corner shops often stick to single-feed systems because of lower volumes and limited floor space.

The large footprint and the need for a backroom sorting unit mean that the system is overkill for locations that face only a few hundred containers per day. For such outlets, the capital expenditure and installation effort do not pay back as quickly.

Where sustainability meets retail

Tomra Systems ASA positions the R1 as part of a larger circular-economy ecosystem that also includes industrial sorting solutions. Customers see the machine as the visible tip of that system, because the deposit slip is a tangible reward for bringing material back.

CEO Tove Andersen regularly highlights reverse vending volumes in presentations, underlining how consumer-facing hardware like Tomra R1 feeds material streams into recycling plants. For investors, this creates a clear bridge between sustainability narratives and measurable transaction numbers.

Company context and share listing

Tomra builds the R1 in the broader context of national deposit schemes, regulatory changes and the company’s long-standing role in automated return systems. Net-net, the Tomra R1 is one of several hardware platforms that link the brand directly to consumers and retailers at store level.

Tomra Systems ASA shares (ISIN NO0005668905) are listed on the Oslo Børs, and the Tomra R1 contributes to the perception of the company as a key supplier for deposit return infrastructure, even though the share price also reflects other business segments.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.

en | NO0005668905 | TOMRA | boerse | 69628457 | bgmi