ZF Aftermarket: Remanufacturing is a Key to Sustainable Production

A rational use of resources is the most reasonable way to ensure environment-oriented production. Remanufacturing allows the automobile industry to cut expenses on consumption of energy and materials – in contrast to manufacturing of new parts. ZF has been working with this concept in mind since 1962 and has significantly expanded its reman program over the last years. As a result, ZF managed to launch remanufacturing of a wide range of car elements including brake systems, gearboxes, steering units or torque converters to original equipment quality at 15 sites.

ZF’s remanufacturing locations

At the upcoming ReMaTec exhibition focused on the latest trends and technologies of the aftermarket industry, ZF Aftermarket plans not only to showcase its latest rebuilt solutions, but also present the most significant ZF achievements in the field of remanufacturing. It is interesting to point out that ZF has several Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) certifications for sustainable production. To receive this certification, the production company must reuse approximately 95 % of the materials.

At ZF Aftermarket, the process of remanufacturing starts in the repair shop, by tearing down the old component from the car. At one of the sites, ZF Aftermarket specialists estimate the condition of the component, disassemble and clean it. Then they separate worn or broken individual elements, dispose of them in an eco-friendly way or recycle them. In the process of assembly, ZF specialists replace faulty or worn-out elements with parts of OEM quality and update the software if required. Lastly, the remanufactured part is supplied to the aftermarket with a new warranty.

Learn more about remanufacturing processes at ZF Aftermarket

ZF representatives claim that remanufacturing is a production standard rather than a repair job. ZF’s reman program allowed to decrease the consumption of new raw materials up to 90% in contrast to production of a new component. In addition, the company saves approximately 90% in energy. Thanks to this remanufacturing initiative ZF helps the whole automobile industry to become more environmentally-oriented and to meet strict emission standards.