The pros and cons of using remanufactured automotive parts in your workshop

A remanufactured part is a used OEM part that has been stripped down and had any of its worn components replaced. It should not be confused with a refurbished or reconditioned part. A remanufactured part will have been cleaned and is likely to have had some of its components replaced. It will show a level of wear, but in terms of quality and robustness a remanufactured part is equivalent to a brand new part. This means that a remanufactured part, sometimes referred to as a ‘reman’ part, will be just as reliable as a brand new part.

There are many reasons why you should consider using remanufactured parts in your workshop, but let’s start with perhaps the most obvious and important one of all: sustainability.

Sustainability

Remanufacturing contributes significantly to the reduction of CO² emissions, and also offers end consumers an economical and safe way to maintain their cars on the road. According to Circulate, an organisation that researches sustainability, 80% less energy is used during remanufacturing compared to that used in the production of new automotive parts. Remanufacturing also conserves precious raw materials such as steel, aluminium and copper.

Obsolesence Management

Remanufacturing also supports sustainability because it keeps existing petrol and diesel vehicles operating longer until e-vehicles take over, meaning there is less need for new ones to be made. TRW works closely with The International Institute of Obsolescence Management (IIOM), a special interest group concerned with obsolescence management that promotes pro-active management.

In the remanufacturing sector, obsolescence management tools monitor the life cycle of components and notify customers about last time buys. If a component manufacturer finds that it is not economically viable to continue the manufacture of a component, it will often issue a ‘last time buy notice’. This lets customers know that the manufacture of that particular component will soon end. Customers then have a limited timeframe in which to buy that part. If a component listed as being on ‘last time buy’ is essential to that customer, they can then buy components in bulk to cover the future maintenance.

With an aging vehicle parc and new parts, especially electronic parts, becoming obsolete very quickly, remanufacturing is often the only way to keep older vehicles on the road. If you can’t find the automotive part you need because it’s obsolete, the TRW Remanufacturing Group (RMG) can source it from our dedicated facilities in the UK, Czech Republic or the USA.

Economy

It’s also economical; even if the parts are still available new, they are likely to be costly to produce. Compared to the high volumes required by OEMs, the number of vehicle parts required by the automotive aftermarket is much lower – resulting in low batch production with correspondingly higher manufacturing costs. So, if you want to save up to twenty five per cent on a new replacement automotive part, and help the environment by reducing the use of raw materials, then take a look at remanufactured parts.

For example, you can reduce costs to your business and the environment by choosing remanufactured calipers. TRW remanufactured parts are 100% checked and cleaned. Worn components are replaced and reassembled, and 100% line tested. Remanufactured brake calipers are stripped, cleaned and rebuilt with OE quality parts to create a remanufactured caliper that performs just as well as the one that was originally fitted to the car. We’re proud to say that, according to our figures, this saves more than 1,500 tonnes of CO² a year for the environment.

In summary, remanufacturing offers greater efficiency and uses fewer resources, while maintaining the highest standards of performance. It offers a sustainable supply chain for aging parts, helping you to avoid issues with parts becoming obsolete; it offers value for money, and it can use just a fraction of the energy and CO² required to make a brand new part.