NEWS
Apple pledges move towards ‘closed loop’ supply chain Media and IT giant Apple has pledged to move towards a closed-loop supply chain, where its products are created using renewable or recycled material. Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, says: “We embrace the circular economy.” The commitments come in Apple’s 2017 Sustainability Report, which mentions a number of initiatives designed to enable the group to meet
this goal, such as the Apple Renew programme, which encourages customers to return cores. One of the most
eye-catching developments is Apple’s creation of ‘Liam’, a line of robots that can rapidly take apart the iPhone 6: “With two Liam lines up and running, we can take apart up to 2.4 million phones a year,” the company says. Material from aluminium enclosures recovered from the iPhone 6 has been used to build Mac mini computers used in Apple’s iPhone final assembly facilities. The company insists it is “looking for opportunities to expand this pilot”.
AS-PL reman expansion Polish aftermarket specialist AS-PL has expanded its services to include alternator and starter remanufacturing. The company, which was established in 1992 as Auto-Starter, has been in the automotive industry for 25 years and has 150 staff. In 2013, the company’s HQ moved to a modern facility based in Gdańsk comprising a 5,000 sq m warehouse. Last year, a new production line facility and second warehouse with a similar footprint were opened in Lubichowo. Yorien de Ruijter (left of picture), sales manager of ReMaTecNews publisher RAI Exhibitions, was recently among invited visitors to its Gdańsk operation.
PANALPINA AND CARDIFF EXPLORE NEW MODELS Remanufacturing was at the heart of a recent workshop by supply chain solution provider Panalpina and academics from Cardiff University in Wales. The two organisations have an ongoing relationship and looked at why relatively few companies actively pursue circular models of production. The session touched on: barriers to the circular economy from a business perspective, areas where further research is needed and which academic disciplines might contribute and how. Aris Syntetos, Panalpina chair in manufacturing and logistics research, said: “Circular economic models hold huge potential for the public and are at the heart of Cardiff Business School’s research.” The event was the first in a series of workshops which will concentrate on “topics with significant societal impact” while exploring possible areas for collaboration and new research through the ESRC Transformative Research scheme.
Beetle forerunner rebuild challenge for ReMaTec 2017 visitors Visitors to ReMaTec 2017 will be able to take part in a project to remanufacture the 1930s automobile which was the forerunner of the ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle. Through crowdfunding, Paul Schilperoord hopes to rebuild the Standard Superior Type I designed by Jewish engineer Josef Ganz. Around 250 were built in 1933, and the model was presented to Adolf Hitler at that year’s Berlin motor show. The vehicle Have something to share? Email your ideas and stories to editorial@rematecnews.com
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that will be displayed at the Amsterdam show was kept on the road in the former East Germany for decades – but its bodywork has been modified using Trabant parts. With the help of professional restorers, Schilperoord plans to reman the original wooden bodywork and use the car to promote the work of the forgotten Ganz. He hopes to unveil the finished vehicle next year. l For full story, see p27 www.ReMaTec.com
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