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Is Remanufacturing Environmentally Friendly?
Remanufacturing is: ‘The practise that recovers products from commercial usage and transforms them into like-new goods to be reintroduced into the market place’ (APEC, 2016.)
OEM Vs. Component Remanufacturing
• Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
• There is a common view that remanufactured components or parts are not as structurally sound, or dependable as new components – In almost all cases this view is wrong!
• The part when remanufactured will not only meet the standards of the original part, in terms of its original function and standards, it can also be improved with technological advances.
Benefits to Customers
• Lower Prices: Remanufactured products are typically 60-80% the cost of a new product line (iCatching, 2016)
• Availability: There is a shorter lead time, and may allow customers to continue with equipment which may no longer be manufactured (iCatching, 2006)
• Failure rates: Often OEM parts have a built in Obsolescence, or have a Known failure mechanism. Which means within a certain time frame a part will need replacing.
Manufacturing new parts increases demand on finite resources, it also uses considerable energy to recuperate them. This process can be seen in the diagram below:
Zee, S., et al. (2015).
Environmental Benefits
Statham, S. (2006) describes remanufacturing as the ‘ultimate form of recycling’. The benefits of remanufacturing may include (iCatching 2016):
• Reduced raw material consumption• Reduced energy consumption• Reduction in CO2 emissions• Reduction of materials sent to landfill
Of course remanufacturing also uses energy, water and materials, but nowhere near that of the OEM. According to Apec, (2016), manufacturers of refurbished products on average use:
• 85% less energy• 86% less water• 85% less material
Environmental Benefits
Statham, S. (2006) describes remanufacturing as the ‘ultimate form of recycling’. The benefits of remanufacturing may include (iCatching 2016):
• Reduced raw material consumption• Reduced energy consumption• Reduction in CO2 emissions• Reduction of materials sent to landfill
Of course remanufacturing also uses energy, water and materials, but nowhere near that of the OEM. According to Apec, (2016), manufacturers of refurbished products on average use:
• 85% less energy• 86% less water• 85% less material
Through adding a remanufacturing input into the process the diagram can be revised:
Zee, S., et al. (2015).
Summary
• It has been established that there is a very strong, and convincing argument for remanufacturing causing instrumentally less damage to the environment. When compared to replacing parts or components.
• Each part or component at some point will need replacing, whether it is through built in obsolescence, or because they have a known failure mechanism.
• Remanufacturing in most cases is more cost and time effective. Furthermore, components or parts can be restored to the original standards, or can be improved on.
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At SpiralWeld® we know the importance of cost, time and the environment, we understand that in a world where there is an ever increasing demand for the finite resources, there has to be an
intermediary which seeks to remanufacture, recycle, reuse and reintroduce the used parts. Not only does this help keep resources available for future generations, but can also help curb some of the
environmental negative impacts directly linked to the recuperation of materials, and then the transformation those materials have to then undergo. That is why we believe the future relies on the
type of remanufacturing service we offer to industries.
www.spiralweld.co.uk [email protected] 02380228801
References
• Apec, (2016). Remanufacturing brings economic and environmental benefits - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. [online] Available at: http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2012/0328_remanufacturing.aspx [Accessed 16 Feb. 2016].
• iCatching (2016). Benefits of remanufacturing for manufacturers, the environment and the end-user. [online] Remanufacturing.org.uk. Available at: http://www.remanufacturing.org.uk/reasons-to-remanufacture.php [Accessed 16 Feb. 2016].
• Mining-technology, (2016). The Cloud Break iron ore mine is located in Pilbara, Western Australia. The mine is owned and operated by Fortescue Metals Group. - Image - Mining Technology. [online] Available at: http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/cloud-break/cloud-break1.html. [Accessed 16 Feb. 2016].
• Statham, S. (2006). Remanufacturing towards a more sustainable future. Technology watch.• Zee, S., Engelaer, F. and Huethorst, B. (2015). sustainable returns by recovering used assets. DLL group
