The sorting of used garments has long been a labor-intensive bottleneck, with high error rates limiting the scale of the global resale market. Swedish textile machinery maker Eton Systems has now unveiled an AI-powered sorting module at Texprocess in Frankfurt, aiming to break that logjam.
Technical Breakthrough: From Material Handling to Intelligent Recognition
Eton's new aUPS module builds on its well-established UPS material handling system, integrating the company's proprietary ETONingenious platform. The module uses AI to identify fabric composition (cotton, polyester, blends, etc.), color, wear level, and even stain distribution on used garments in real time. Compared to earlier optical sorting systems, the aUPS training dataset covers a broader range of second-hand clothing samples, achieving claimed accuracy above 95%.
This means a sorting operation that previously required 20 skilled workers can now be handled by one aUPS unit with two to three operators. For large-scale sorting centers processing over 100,000 tons annually, labor costs could drop by more than 40%.
Market Drivers: Resale Market Growing Over 15% Annually
The global second-hand garment market is expanding rapidly. Industry data shows that transaction value exceeded USD 30 billion in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate of 15%-20%. Europe and North America are the main growth regions, while emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa are seeing rising import demand.
Sorting automation, however, lags far behind collection and cleaning. Traditional sorting lines rely on manual inspection, processing only 200-300 pieces per hour with frequent fatigue-related errors. Eton's aUPS boosts throughput to over 1,200 pieces per hour while maintaining high accuracy, directly addressing the need for scalable, standardized processing.
Industry Impact: Supply Chain Restructuring and Cost Reformation
The aUPS module will push the second-hand garment supply chain from labor-intensive to technology-driven. For brands, it means more precise recovery of their own products for refurbishment or fiber recycling. For recyclers, automated sorting enables efficient extraction of reusable fibers from low-value waste, improving overall recovery rates.
On the pricing side, lower sorting costs will translate into lower end-user prices. In Europe, the average price of a used garment is EUR 5-15, with sorting and logistics accounting for about 30% of the cost. If sorting costs drop by 50%, final prices could fall by 10%-15%, further stimulating demand.