Recycling has been an important part of industrial production for several years, with companies focusing primarily on recycling products containing significant amounts of copper, steel, and aluminum. The re-use of materials generates high material and energy savings, and now also cuts costs considerably, as raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce and, therefore, more expensive. In contrast to recycling, the remanufacturing of used parts is a relatively new development. This process is the direct result of regulations introduced over recent years through the German Waste Avoidance, Recycling, and Disposal Act (“Kreislaufwirtschafts- und Abfallgesetz”). The material that can be saved by remanufacturing totals around 14 million metric tons a year worldwide, with energy savings amounting to almost 35 billion kilowatt hours.
International expansion
In recent years, Bosch has continually expanded its portfolio for remanufacturing used car parts. Under the “Bosch eXchange” brand, we remanufacture around 5,200 different spare parts and sell them as cost-effective alternatives with a warranty that is the same as for brand-new products. The range of remanufactured parts includes starters, alternators, and components for injection and braking systems. Each year, 2.6 million eXchange components are reused. In the case of starters and alternators, this saves 2,200 metric tons of steel, 440 metric tons of aluminum, 240 metric tons of copper, and 1,000 metric tons of CO2 compared to new products.
This makes Bosch one of the leading international suppliers in this area, and it continues to expand its remanufacturing activities for used car parts, acquiring Holger Christiansen A/S in 2008. This dealer in automotive electrics spare parts primarily remanufactures starters and alternators at four manufacturing sites in Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, and the Ukraine and has eight sales locations – seven in Europe and one in the United States.
