Purchasing refurbished industrial electronics is an attractive proposition for production environments where downtime is not an option. When industrial components become obsolete, leaving companies unable to purchase replacements from original manufacturers, refurbished industrial electronics can offer continuity of process.
But with many new suppliers entering the electronics repair and refurbishment market, Gerard Katje, co-founder and head of new business development from JC-Electronics, asks how can buyers be sure that the parts purchased deliver the quality and availability required to maintain uptime in busy manufacturing environments? The answer lies in careful selection to ensure that key criteria are met, matched with objective proof.
Buyers need to be clear that the business understands the value of refurbishment, and that refurbished electronics are not viewed as used equipment with minimal improvements, or a quick fix to an obsolescence problem. Refurbishing industrial electronics should follow a meticulous process of restoration that goes far beyond simple repairs. Once in this mindset, then supplier selection can focus on the standardised processes, comprehensive testing, and quality assurance protocols that can transform the equipment to a like-new condition.
There is also a common and outdated belief that refurbished equipment will experience more failures and mean sacrificing warranty protection. Properly refurbished electronics often demonstrate reliability comparable to or better than new, allowing quality refurbishers to offer warranties that match or even exceed those for new equipment. It is these objective proof points that matter most to a B2B buyer.
For example, all JC-Electronics’ refurbished electronics carry the JCertified quality mark, a standard for quality and reliability, complete with a standard two-year warranty, including older components. Defects are repaired and weak components replaced preventively by qualified, internally-trained electricians, followed by extensive pre-testing, reconditioning and final inspection.
Buyers should verify the supplier’s other certifications, such as ISO accreditation, which provides another objective measure for the quality and rigour of the repair and test processes. JC-Electronics holds several international accreditations for quality, environmental management, and circularity. These include the ISO 9001:2015 for quality management systems, ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management, and the RecQ Label – a European label verifying circularity and reliability in refurbished electronics.
With numerous pressures placed on businesses to reduce their use of raw materials and reuse where feasible, refurbished industrial electronics can deliver significant environmental benefits by extending product life and cutting carbon emissions, compared to the manufacture of new parts. However, this is another area where buyers need evidence, to avoid selection based on false or misleading claims.
Gerard concludes: “Quality may come at a higher price, but it also guarantees a working installation. In a market where refurbished items can differ significantly depending on the provider, we provide quality assurance through our JCertified standard. Every component we supply undergoes a documented technical inspection and testing process, giving customers the traceability and confidence they need to specify refurbished with the same assurances as new.”