January 15, 2025
Refurbishment of spare parts brings benefits for both the company and the environment

Refurbishment of spare parts improves resource efficiency by reducing, for example, the need to manufacture new raw materials. It is an operating model that benefits both the company and the environment.
Refurbishment of spare parts is a sustainable and cost-effective approach for a manufacturing company. Industrial companies can save costs, while promoting a sustainable future by reducing environmental impacts. Maintenance can therefore improve the sustainability and competitiveness of a manufacturing industrial company.
– With refurbishment of spare parts, industrial companies can reduce a significant amount of waste, compared to always replacing a component with a new one. Repairing a single component instead of buying a new one can reduce waste by up to 30 percent. Manufacturing a new component often requires more energy and raw material handling, says Henri Chi, Sales Director, Quant Finland.
Reduce emissions through refurbishment of spare parts
Since refurbishment of spare parts reduces the need for energy consumption and transportation of raw materials for the manufacture of new components, refurbishment also contributes to decreased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
– As an example, repairing a single component instead of buying a new one can reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 50 percent. Therefore, refurbishment does not only bring benefits in the short term, but offers long-term benefits for both the company and the environment. Of course, the need for raw materials, energy, and transportation saved through spare parts refurbishment always depends on the component, and the same example does not apply to every component, but this clearly demonstrates the significance of spare parts refurbishment, Chi says.
Spare part prices can also be high, so by repairing an existing component, the company can save money, especially for large and expensive components.
– Maintenance and repair of existing components are often significantly cheaper. Typically, refurbishment of spare parts is 40–50 percent cheaper than buying a new component. Refurbishment of spare parts does not only mean replacing broken parts, but also renewing all necessary consumable parts to achieve a life cycle equivalent to a new part, says Lauri Kaiharju, Sales Manager, Quant Finland.
Minimize unexpected production downtime
The purpose of spare parts repair is to clean the component, replace worn parts, update the component, and check through testing that it meets all quality and safety requirements. The refurbished spare parts are of the same quality as new ones. Spare parts repair also helps to improve predictability, and in addition, refurbishment of spare parts reduces a company’s dependence on delivery times while improving production continuity.
– In many cases, repairing spare parts can be faster than purchasing a new one, especially if the component is difficult to obtain. When spare parts are repaired regularly, maintenance becomes more predictable and easier to budget for. Potential problems can be identified at an early stage and known repairs can be planned well in advance, thus minimizing production downtime, Kaiharju adds.