Elevate Sustainability with Flawless Surface Finish
Author: Mats Bystedt
This text was also published in Uusiouutiset: Pintakäsittelyn ja uudelleenvalmistuksen avulla uusi elämä tuotteille - Uusiouutiset
In our journey towards sustainability, prolonging the lifespan is said to be one of the best ways to lower our carbon footprint. In addition, it is also an activity that can involve not only the manufacturer but also the end-customer or some third party specialized in remanufacturing. We often underestimate the power of an object's surface finish. This simple yet essential element plays a pivotal role in the green transition. Let's explore why it matters.
Let’s start with a practical example; Imagine that you stand in front of a few second-hand smartphones with the intention to buy one of them. What do you pay attention to even before you start checking the technical details? I bet it is the general look and feel of the surface on the phone. If it is full of scratches and just looks dull in general, you have most likely already discarded the phone based on the surface finish alone. We at Mirka believe this can be very true for most objects, regardless of whether we are talking about consumer goods or industrial objects. Surfaces matter.
Prolonging lifespans is widely seen in many industries, such as aviation, marine, machinery, and medical devices. However, we believe that current remanufacturing and refurbishing operations can be more effective and financially attractive with improved processes and automation. In addition, there are also many product categories where recycling is the more common way to be “green.” This is where there is a huge untapped potential to enable a faster green transition—a transition that is driven by regulations and market demand from younger generations for truly sustainable options where recycling is simply not good enough. Not to forget the incremental revenue streams from second-life products.
In summary, the art of perfecting surface finish in remanufacturing is not just a touch-up; it's a transformation. It's about creating renewed objects that are not only in mint condition but also sustainable thanks to the prolonged lifetime.
Business Finland has granted 10 million euros in development funding for the Mirka SHAPE project in the challenge competition as well as 20 million euros to the ecosystem companies surrounding the project. The SHAPE ecosystem is aiming at bringing together stakeholders who want to collaborate around the green transition. The aim is to create a cross-industrial ecosystem to develop solutions for the remanufacturing and manufacturing industries, contributing to a net carbon-negative impact. One specific area is remanufacturing and refurbishing, and we welcome companies, academia, and other organizations to join the ecosystem at: Contact & Join — SHAPE Ecosystem (shape-ecosystem.com)