Remanufacturing involves modifying, repairing or recycling a product.
Remanufacturing is a notion that is not part of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). We can find, however, the term manufacturing , which refers to the product manufactured manually or with the assistance of a machine .
It is possible to affirm that a remanufacturing , therefore, is an object that has been manufactured again . Remanufactured products are the result of a restoration or modification of others that had already been manufactured and used previously.
The importance of remanufacturing
Generally, when a product has already been used, it is discarded and becomes waste. However, in many cases it is possible to recover it through different processes so that, either in whole or in part, it can be used again. The result of these recycling and reassembly processes is called remanufacturing.
Remanufacturing includes the inclusion of new parts to replace those that are worn out and no longer useful. What is sought is for the product in general to acquire a second useful life , something that is positive for the environment since the level of garbage is minimized and avoids having to restart the entire production mechanism (with its consequent polluting emissions. ).
Remanufacturing of printer cartridges is common.
Process development
Remanufacturing is based on a series of steps and pillars:
- The collection of the product from the place where it was deposited once its use has been exhausted.
- Maintaining its value.
- Perfect coordination of all the parts that play a fundamental role in the process.
- The appropriate and necessary application of design methods for remanufacturing.
- The development of quality control is essential so that remanufactured products reach the consumer in the best possible conditions.
Although the remanufacturing sector has experienced notable growth in recent years, it is considered vital that measures continue to be carried out in order to promote it in the most appropriate way. In this sense, sector experts establish that it is necessary to clarify the legislation in this regard, to support SMEs dedicated to this work, to carry out the accreditation of remanufactured products or even to provide fiscal incentives for the purchase of items of this type.
Examples of remanufacturing
An example of remanufacturing is ink cartridges that, once empty, are refilled. This practice, although manufacturers of printers and new cartridges classify it as risky for the equipment, is quite common since it allows you to reduce the costs linked to printing .
Within the scope of this type of printer consumables, we can establish that there are two types of remanufactured cartridges:
- The toner ones. These, after a process consisting of tasks such as disassembly or replacement, are filled.
- The injection ones. As their name suggests, they are used in printers that work using an inkjet system. To obtain them, it is necessary to undertake cleaning, checking and refilling those that have already been used.