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The Zebra Aurora suite of machine vision software enables users to solve their track-and-trace, vision inspection and industrial automation needs.
Zebra Aurora Focus brings a new level of simplicity to controlling enterprise-wide manufacturing and logistics automation solutions. With this powerful interface, it’s easy to set up, deploy and run Zebra’s Fixed Industrial Scanners and Machine Vision Smart Cameras, eliminating the need for different tools and reducing training and deployment time.
Aurora Imaging Library™, formerly Matrox Imaging Library, machine-vision software development kit (SDK) has a deep collection of tools for image capture, processing, analysis, annotation, display, and archiving. Code-level customisation starts here.
Aurora Design Assistant™, formerly Matrox Design Assistant, integrated development environment (IDE) is a flowchart-based platform for building machine vision applications, with templates to speed up development and bring solutions online quicker.
Designed for experienced programmers proficient in vision applications, Aurora Vision Library provides the same sophisticated functionality as our Aurora Vision Studio software but presented in programming language.
Aurora Vision Studio, an image processing software for machine & computer vision engineers, allows quick creation, integration & monitoring of powerful OEM vision applications.
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Zebra's Circular Economy Program helps you manage today’s challenges and plan for tomorrow with smart solutions that are good for your budget and the environment.
Polytag Unlocks Real-Time Recycling Traceability with Zebra Machine Vision Software
Zebra vision tools enable precise waste tracking, reduce costs and enhance accountability
BOURNE END, England – 9 Oct., 2025 – Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a global leader in digitising and automating workflows to deliver intelligent operations, today announced that Polytag, a leading provider of advanced QR code and UV tag and trace solutions for circular economies, is using Zebra’s Aurora Vision Library to empower organisations to take actionable steps toward environmental accountability and circular economy goals.
One of the principal challenges Polytag addresses is tracking and capturing data from single‑use plastics. Although it may appear straightforward, the task is highly complex: plastics vary greatly in shape, colour, and size, and they are frequently mixed or compressed within recycling streams.
To overcome this, brands apply invisible UV 2D markers onto their packaging labels, which are detected using the Polytag detection units, enabling real-time identification of material origins, recycling rates, and end-of-life destinations. With the Zebra Aurora Vision Library, the system accurately processes 20 frames per second with the ability to read 2D codes on challenging high-speed conveyor lines in dimly lit facilities.
“Our mission is to give organisations the tools to make smarter, data-driven decisions about sustainability,” said Jonathan Anderson, Chief Technology Officer, Polytag. “By integrating Zebra’s solution, we’ve unlocked unprecedented precision in waste tracking, making real circularity achievable.”
Accurate, reliable and scalable with machine vision
Polytag initially relied on embedded camera systems for its proof of concept, but this approach lacked the scalability required for industrial operations. Seeking a robust alternative, Polytag collaborated with Zebra and Automatica, a Zebra Industrial Automation Partner, to significantly reduce costs while enhancing reliability and scalability.
“Aurora Vision Library offered seamless integration with our systems, allowing the capture of rich data in real time,” Anderson added. “We are transforming recycling centres by embracing intelligent operations that accelerate workflows and deliver actionable insights.”
The Polytag system reads throughout recycling centres, even on high-speed lines without the need to change vision hardware. Aurora software can operate with third-party hardware, giving users additional flexibility and backwards compatibility if needed. Even in the damp, dusty, and low-light conditions of material recovery facilities, frontline workers can accurately track waste using this solution.
Real-time dashboards help organisations monitor recycling performance by SKU and location, uncovering patterns and identifying underperforming products, like soft drinks bought in transit or shampoo bottles used in a hotel. This insight allows for targeted recycling campaigns and design strategies that guide consumer choices effectively.
“We want to drive a systematic change," Anderson said. “That way, organisations can make more conscious decisions based on what happens to their packaging in the real world, not just what it's made from. Zebra’s solution has been instrumental in making that vision operational.”
Achieving 100% detection rates
Polytag’s solution is already making waves in the recycling ecosystem. With Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations increasingly demanding precise data on packaging waste, Polytag’s “describe, tag, and trace” platform delivers unparalleled visibility into the recycling lifecycle.
“During research and development, we installed six units at a plant designed specifically to test and optimise new recycling technologies in a realistic environment,” said Anderson. “Powered by Zebra high-fidelity scans through the Aurora platform, we achieved an unprecedented 100% detection rate.”
This result supports organisations in meeting EPR requirements. The objective is simple: moving from assumptions to actual data that shows which products are being recycled and which are not.
“Polytag’s success is a testament to the power of asset visibility and intelligent automation powered by software,” said Donato Montanari, Vice President and General Manager, Machine Vision, Zebra Technologies. “Together, we’re solving a problem, rethinking how the world handles waste and creating new ways of working that make everyday life better for organisations, their employees, and those they serve.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Using the Zebra Aurora Vision Library, Polytag achieved 100% accuracy in detecting and tracking packaging waste, transforming recycling operations with real-time data.
- The integration of Zebra vision tools reduces costs and enables Polytag to deploy scalable, reliable waste tracking systems.
- The solution delivers actionable insights, helping organisations meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and support sustainable packaging practices.
ABOUT ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES
Zebra provides the foundation for intelligent operations with an award-winning portfolio of connected frontline, asset visibility and automation solutions. Organizations globally across retail, manufacturing, transportation, logistics, healthcare, and other industries rely on us to deliver outcomes today while driving innovation for what’s next. Together with our partners, we create new ways of working that improve productivity and empower organizations to be better every day. Learn more at www.zebra.com.
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Media Contact:
Daniel Blackman
Zebra Technologies
+44 (0)7408 864 597
Daniel.Blackman@zebra.com
Industry Analyst Contact:
Kasia Fahmy
Zebra Technologies
+1-224-306-8654
k.fahmy@zebra.com
ZEBRA and the stylised Zebra head are trademarks of Zebra Technologies Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2025 Zebra Technologies Corp. and/or its affiliates. You may quote this release with attribution.
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ZEBRA and the stylized Zebra head are trademarks of Zebra Technologies Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2025 Zebra Technologies Corp. and/or its affiliates.