Cores and Remanufactured Parts

Remanufacturing – the process of turning a non-functioning used part, known as a core, into a high-quality finished product – is gaining renewed momentum throughout the commercial vehicle industry.

Today, with ongoing supply chain issues impacting parts supplies, it can sometimes be the only alternative for many fleet maintenance and service provider operations. Still, using cores to generate like new parts can have value at any time

Core benefits

The case for using existing cores to create a supply of remanufactured parts for both users and suppliers is compelling:

• Remanufacturers have the advantage of knowing a product’s performance, allowing them to address weaknesses with newer components and use design improvements to provide a product that is equal to or better than the original in quality and performance. Some examples are as simple as plating parts that are prone to rust, using stronger items to prevent a weak link in an assembly, or adding sensors for service alerts.
• Remanufacturing renews the life of a core several times before it ends up in a landfill or recycling
• The process allows remanufacturers to offer products that may no longer be production.
• Remanufactured can be available at a discount compared to the cost of a new original item.
• Remanufacturers can offer the same warranty on a remanufactured part as they do on a new original equipment.

Working with the right suppliers

Not all core exchange programs or remanufactured items are equal, so working with a reputable supplier is essential. In many cases, original equipment manufacturers offer programs.

Some core programs require a "like-for-like" exchange in order to receive credit toward a newly remanufactured part. In other words, fleets and service operations have to turn in the same brand and in some cases the same model. It’s also important to determine if a remanufactured part will be provided based on a company’s core or another source 

There are a number of common steps in a core exchange program:

1. Customer purchases a remanufactured part
2. Customer turns in the old core for credit
3. The core is shipped to the remanufacturer
4. The remanufacturer qualifies the core to determine if it is usable
5. The customer is provided credit for the core
6. Reusable core components go into the remanufacturing process, which typically involves tearing down the old core, validating its components, cleaning, inspection, rebuilding and quality checks.

Use your supplier resources

All core exchange programs have some common elements but generally they are all aimed at providing remanufactured items meet a supplier’s quality standards 

Reputable parts distributors have access to core exchange programs through their vendors and can be a valuable source of advice when it comes to making a core exchange decision.

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