When you buy a product for your business, you’re likely focused on things like price or reviews to help you make up your mind. You’re probably not even considering buying something used. Most of the time, you’d think “No – I want something that’s brand new.” But, when it comes to industrial automation, you may want to review that thought process – especially when purchasing remanufactured Rockwell Automation parts.
As an authorized Rockwell Automation distributor for over five decades, our team at HESCO strives to provide our customers with all the information they need to make the correct and qualified decision — and that includes considering the most budget-friendly options. So, when it comes to remanufactured products, are they a better option to purchase?
In some cases, yes. Remanufactured products can last as long if not longer than new ones — and you can pick them up at a steep discount, sometimes up to 50% less than buying new ones. Let’s dive into when and why this might be a better option for you.
First, What is a Remanufactured Rockwell Product?
To see how purchasing remanufactured products can benefit you, you first need to understand what a remanufactured product is.
A remanufactured product is a product that was originally bought brand new but has since been damaged. It is then sent back to Rockwell Automation and repaired to its original operating condition. These products are for sale for a cheaper price, at request.
Say you’re looking to buy a product that acts as a communication network in a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) to establish a standard Ethernet Technology. (Ethernet Technology ensures a strong internet connection is always present and stable.)
After doing your research, you determine that you’re going to buy an Ethernet Encoder.
Let’s say five years down the road, with stable internet and no disruptions, your encoder suddenly breaks. This sends your facility into chaos and puts you in a bind. So, you contact Rockwell to utilize their remanufacturing and repair service. They provide you with two options:
- Priority
When you purchase the priority option, this means that Rockwell already has a remanufactured version of your product ready to be shipped to you. It is an equal exchange — you send your damaged product to Rockwell, and they immediately send you ready-to-go remanufactured product.
So, you are not getting your product back, but the same product that was already remanufactured and ready to be sent out.
This option is a higher cost, but it does give you the ability to receive the product overnight. You will also receive a 24-month warranty.
But, this option isn’t always available for all products. If Rockwell does not have a remanufactured version of your broken or damaged product on hand, they will refer you to purchasing the Economy option of remanufacturing.
- Economy
When you purchase the economy option, this means you are sending your product back to Rockwell to be completely repaired. They will analyze every inch of your product and ensure it is working to its full capacity before sending it back to you.
This option does take a bit longer — the repair time for each product is about two weeks. Then, it is shipped back to you, which can take another two weeks. With this purchase, you are given a 12-month warranty.
Ultimately — if you need a product immediately, and priority is available, choosing that option is likely in your best interest. Since you need that quick turnaround time, the ready-to-go product is a great option.
However, if you are in a bind and cannot quite invest too much money into the service, economy would be the best option.
In the case of the encoder example, going with priority is our recommendation. This will give your facility only a short time out-of-order.
So, Are the Remanufactured Products ‘Better’?
Even with the above information, you may be still unsure of buying a “used” product. But here’s the most surprising thing: Remanufactured products may actually be more reliable.
Think about it like this: When products are mass-produced, each product is created from scratch, but not every single product goes through the testing process – just the ones selected to go through quality control.
When products are sent back to be remanufactured, the product is fully repaired — even if a piece of the product is only slightly damaged. Then, every remanufactured product is tested.
Because of the process of testing, the remanufactured products can be more reliable than their untested brand-new counterparts.
Not only are these products potentially more reliable, but they also appeal to sustainability.
A lot of companies are looking to be more sustainable – meaning, purchasing products or running the business in a way where you are not harming the environment, community, and society.
Instead of going through the process of purchasing a brand-new product, you can reuse yours by remanufacturing and repairing it. This can highlight any sustainability initiatives that you or your company are implementing.
How to Purchase a Remanufactured Product
If you are in the market for a Rockwell product and you’re interested in the remanufactured option, talk to your distributor. If you’re in Connecticut, contact our team who is happy to help you.
Though it is the norm to purchase brand-new products, consider purchasing a remanufactured product if it makes sense for your budget and your needs. You could be saving yourself some money and increasing the life of your products.