In the printing industry, the "product-as-a-service" business model has long been popular in commercial printers and copiers, compared to home printers and copiers. Rather than owning the machines, many companies are opting to purchase the printing functionality and related services, such as maintenance and repair, to reduce operating expenses. This business model has also led to the rapid development of circular economy-related industries in this sector, such as the remanufacturing, reuse, and recycling of related components and modules, maximizing material recycling rates and economic benefits. In this context, this article will introduce APD International Ltd. (APDI), a specialist in electromechanical module remanufacturing within the printing industry chain. A small and medium-sized enterprise with over 30 years of remanufacturing experience, APDI primarily specializes in the remanufacturing of electromechanical modules for medium- and high-volume printing systems, including xerographic and fusing modules. The company was founded in Cinderford, England in 1985. It was originally a developer of polymer paint rollers and later focused on the refurbishment and remanufacturing of roller modules. In view of the rapid development of printing technology and the awareness of its challenges and business opportunities, APDI extended its technology to more complex electromechanical modules in printing systems, thus becoming an expert in remanufacturing in this field. In addition to the Cinderford plant, there is another plant in Mikulov, Czech Republic, which jointly supports original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the printing industry chain [1]. The "raw materials" for remanufacturing are also called core components - a general term for any used, non-functional or damaged products, parts, components and modules that can be remanufactured. A stable supply of core components is not only related to whether the service life of the materials can be extended, but also the key to the sustainable operation of remanufacturers. Therefore, every remanufacturer's business practices must include a recycling (also known as reverse logistics) mechanism, such as collecting a deposit or additional fee when selling remanufactured products and paying it back when the products are returned, or using a "product as a service" business model, to ensure that the core components can be returned to the company for recycling and resale after use. For example, APDI's business model is to cooperate with OEMs and remanufacture approximately 150,000 components each year for its partners. When consumers purchase or lease products, if there is an after-sales service contract, the OEM will collect a certain number of core components, such as electrostatic printing modules, through maintenance and repair services and then hand them over to APDI for processing. After a rigorous remanufacturing process, the remanufactured core components of the same batch and with the same performance as new products are returned to the OEM and given the same warranty as new products [2]. The OEM then assembles the component into the printer to be maintained or repaired to extend the life of the product, and collects the damaged components that have been replaced and returns them to APDI for remanufacturing. In terms of process, APDI's process is similar to traditional remanufacturing. When a used electromechanical module arrives, its remanufacturing potential is first assessed. If it is not economically viable, it is recycled. After the assessment, it is disassembled and, if necessary, the components are cleaned and rinsed, and the wear and tear of the components are checked and their reusability is assessed. After removing the replacement parts and reusable components from the bill of materials, it is assembled according to the original manufacturer's operating instructions. The assembled electromechanical module must undergo rigorous testing and meet the same performance and original manufacturer's standards as a new product before it can be given an APDI label for future product inquiries and tracking. It is then packaged and shipped according to customer needs [1-2]. Remanufacturing is one of the important paths to achieving a circular economy. Due to the recycling of raw materials and local processing, remanufactured products can increase the flexibility of the industry supply chain and reduce the distance of product delivery. This is particularly important in the current situation of global supply chain shortages due to the epidemic. In terms of product price, APDI's electromechanical modules are similar to other printing-related remanufactured products. Due to the recycling of materials, the price is at least 60% of the new product. But more importantly for printer users, remanufactured products can significantly reduce downtime due to waiting for new products due to their short production time. Furthermore, the rapid advancement of printing technology means an increase in the use of electromechanical modules, so the use of remanufactured products can promote the recycling of rare metals and reduce the cost of their disposal. Finally, the remanufacturing process can provide relevant information on how the product fails, which is conducive to improving the design of new products. It is hoped that APDI's remanufacturing case will help Taiwan transform to a circular economy and achieve environmental sustainability goals. References: 1. APDI company official website, http://www.apdiltd.com/index.php, accessed on April 20, 2021 2. APDI business model case analysis, European Remanufacturing Network (ERN), https://www.remanufacturing.eu/studies/edcd0480edc9a0a960be.pdf, accessed on April 5, 2021 Source: Circular Economy Promotion Office
