Remanufacturing is Not Melting the Icebergs

November 17, 2010


CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA –   Dr. Rolf Steinhilper of Bayreuth University in Bayreuth, Germany announced at the International BIG R Show in Las Vegas on October 31, 2010 the results of his team’s extensive research on the “CO2 Footprints of Remanufacturing.”

According to Steinhilper, “The good news is that remanufacturing is not melting the icebergs. In fact, remanufacturing avoids between 38% and 53% of the CO2 that is generated from new production. This is an astounding revelation.”

APRA President, Bill Gager, who has known Dr. Steinhilper since 1978, stated, “People familiar with our industry have always known the tremendous environmental and societal benefit of remanufacturing. The most difficult task was how to calculate what we already knew. Dr. Steinhilper and his team of experts have done it.”

The Bayreuth University team looked at three products: a 6 cylinder BMW diesel engine, a Robert Bosch starter and a BorgWarner Turbocharger. The results, after thousands of hours of research, indicate the reductions in CO2 of 36% to 53% with the supply chain of a remanufactured product versus the supply chain of a new product.

Gager added, “This means that every time a consumer purchases a remanufacturerd product they are reducing their own carbon footprint. To the aftermarket this means that if they wish to be more environmentally friendly they should be promoting more sales of remanufactured product over new and encouraging the consumer to reduce their carbon footprint.”

“We know as an industry that some parts distributors prefer to sell new so they don’t have to deal with the core. This study should convince them of the importance of the remanufacturing product reducing everyone’s carbon footprint. This is good for society and the environment,” commented Gager.

Steinhilper indicated “The amount of CO2 emissions from remanufacturing 1,000,000 starters is equivalent to 20,090 individual passenger flights across the USA. Can remanufacturing help save the climate? Yes…it can!”

Steinhilper had several recommendations to the audience:

1. Where possible, source locally or regionally and not globally to reduce your carbon footprint.
2. Optimize your cleaning technologies to reduce your reliance on chemicals and use less heat.
3. Reuse as many parts as possible during remanufacturing rather than just replacing component parts, while maintaining your quality.

A copy of Dr. Steinhilper’s presentation at the Opening Session of the International BIG R Show will be available in the near future by emailing Bill Gager at gager@buyreman.com.