Above: Refurbishment boosts life cycle offering of slurry treatment plant
The economic benefits of buying refurbished products
are significant. Firstly, refurbished products can be offered at an attractive budget compared to brand- new items. For example, a Herrenknecht Separations refurbished STP can be up to 30% cheaper than a brand new one. Additionally, buying refurbished products can help to support local economies and create jobs in the refurbishing industry as machines are often not transported back around the world or double handled to the OEM manufacturing location, as Herrenknecht globally runs workshops or partnerships. This shows that embracing the circular economy
through buying refurbished products not only benefits the environment but can also stimulate economic growth. There are some challenges, though. They need to be
addressed to fully realise the potential of refurbished products in the circular economy. Quality assurance can be a challenge – since
refurbished products already have been used, there is potential for unexpected issues to arise. However, sourcing high-quality products and using standardised refurbishment practices can help to address this challenge. In terms of the tunnelling industry, the ITATECH Guidelines from 2019 have addressed overall standards to follow as a minimum requirement. Another challenge is customer perception, which may
initially be that refurbished products could be inferior to new ones. Training and education may be needed to help consumers understand that refurbished products can be just as good as new ones, all while providing environmental benefits. One final major barrier that refurbishing companies
often face is regulatory, due to the lack of legislation on the right to repair. Many manufacturers design products in a way that makes it difficult for third-party repairers to access the necessary parts and information to fix them. This means that products that could be given a second life are instead discarded because they are otherwise made to be too costly or complicated to repair. Refurbishing products can require navigating complex regulations related to waste management, safety standards, and consumer protection.
However, the good news is that some progress
is being made on this front. The EU has recently introduced the Right to Repair legislation, which requires manufacturers to make spare parts and repair information available to third-party repairers. Manufacturers will also have to design their products with repairability and refurbishment in mind, making it easier for customers selecting, using and trusting in refurbished components.
BEST PRACTICES FOR REFURBISHMENT IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY When it comes to refurbishing products, there are several best practices to follow to ensure success. Herrenknecht’s network, as a pioneer in this field, brings experience of decades into account: ● Firstly, it is important to have a clear understanding of the refurbishing process, including any regulations or standards that must be met.
● Having a well-documented refurbishing and testing process with quality control measures in place is also crucial for ensuring the consistency and quality of refurbished products.
● Additionally, companies should prioritise the use of sustainable and eco-friendly materials and processes during the refurbishing process.
● Another best practice is to establish strong partnerships with suppliers and refurbishers who share the same values and commitment to the circular economy.
● Companies should consider offering warranties and other post-sale services to their customers to ensure customer satisfaction and continued loyalty.
● Finally, they should track and measure the environmental and economic impact of their refurbishment efforts to continuously improve and refine the processes.
SLURRY TREATMENT PLANTS (STP) AS A KEY TECHNOLOGY Whenever tunnelling projects are realised with slurry shields or multi-mode TBMs, STPs are required to remove particles of soil from the slurry suspension
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