The remanufactured gearbox used in this process underwent rigorous testing, monitored by a quality and function test rig which checks about 100 parameters. It successfully met all quality and performance standards and was confirmed to be 'as good as new'. This process consumed about 50% less material and produced 45% fewer carbon emissions compared to manufacturing entirely new gearboxes.
This initiative is part of the iReGear project, a collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Scandinavian Transmission Service AB, funded by Vinnova, Sweden's innovation agency.
Currently, remanufacturing within the European automotive sector mainly serves to produce spare parts for aftermarket uses, accounting for only 1.1% of total new manufacturing. However, this method is increasingly viewed as crucial for achieving climate goals and advancing a circular economy by mitigating resource scarcity.
This successful integration indicates that integrating remanufactured components directly into new vehicle production lines is feasible. This move could significantly alter industry practices towards more sustainable operations without sacrificing quality.
“This research provides the first evidence to support the argument that it is feasible to envision future manufacturing organizations seamlessly integrating manufacturing and remanufacturing operations to develop Circular Manufacturing Systems that consume fewer resources, produce fewer emissions, and cost less without compromising quality and performance”, says Farazee Asif, Assistant Professor at KTH.
Source: Scania