Remanufacturing shines brightly as the industry's pot of gold

After a four-year absence, Rematec Amsterdam has made a triumphant return, firmly establishing itself as a leading trade fair in the remanufacturing industry. Both exhibitors and visitors looked back on a very inspiring and productive week. Rematec Amsterdam is co-organised with APRA and took place in RAI Amsterdam from June 27-29, 2023.

Kim Buitelaar-Wollenberg, Exhibition Manager Rematec at RAI, is over the moon with how the event turned out. “We are very proud to have the trade show back again. There was a great vibe everywhere on the show floor. Everyone was thrilled to see each other and meet up and do business face to face. Attendance levels were encouraging, the show floor was permanently busy and the constant hum of people reassuringly familiar.”

The crucial role of remanufacturing in a changing world

In remarks at the official opening of Rematec Amsterdam, APRA Europe Chairman Dr. Daniel C.F. Köhler, said despite the global news events, the recovery from the pandemic and supply chain issues, the focus on the customer is still paramount. “We really need to focus on customer needs,” he said in his on-stage discussion with David Fitzsimons, Director European Remanufacturing Council. “In the end, it's still the customer who needs a solution in the workshop and he needs a reasonable offer and parts that are available. So I think focusing on the needs of the business always helps.”

“The global focus on sustainability and the scarcity of raw materials requires a maximum extension of the product lifecycle and the remanufacturing industry has the knowledge and expertise for this. We are therefore very proud that with Rematec we make an important contribution to enhance sustainable designing, engineering, and manufacturing worldwide. I am convinced that the knowledge and experience of the reman industry makes the mobility industry greener”, says Nynke Lipsius, Group Director Mobility RAI Amsterdam.

An international gathering of industry leaders and professionals

Over the three event days an attendee grand total of 3,837 from 90+ countries worldwide engaged. The international attendance was 78%. 85% of attendees are involved in the decision-making process, with no less than 67% as final/joint decision maker. Visitors appreciated Rematec with an excellent mark of 7.5 and over 85% plan to visit again in 2025. Close to 155 companies from 21 countries exhibited. Exhibitors’ satisfaction goes to show in more than 50% of floor space already being reserved for Rematec Amsterdam 2025 (8-10 April) and a superb mark of 7.9.

Positive reactions from exhibitors:

• Lucile Olivas Maynez | Circular Economy Commercial and Marketing development, SUSTAINera – Stellantis: “Rematec has been the ideal context to create more connections, to catch new opportunities to expand the business with new product lines, new partners and core suppliers around the word. This is of fundamental importance for an OEM as Stellantis since Remanufacturing is a key pillar in our Circular Economy strategy and contributes to achieve industry-leading target of Carbon Net Zero by 2038.”
• Sebastian Bujnoch | Senior Business Development Manager, Encory: “Rematec is the place where the remanufacturing industry unites. If you’re in the reman space you cannot miss Rematec. There is no other place where you meet so many potential clients and experts in such a short time. We received great leads and are looking forward to expanding our business.”
• Michael Hague-Morgan | Executive Director, Autocraft Solutions Group: “It’s vitally important to come here to show we’re actually doing it. We did 3,000 battery packs last year. There are a lot of people who talk about remanufacturing repair of battery packs, but for us, that’s a real USP to have done that much volume on that many vehicles over multiple customers. So, It’s important to show that we can walk the walk and bringing this was absolutely vitally important for people to touch and feel and see what reality is.”

Exploring key topics at the Rematec Theatre Programme

The Rematec Theatre Programme with 60+ sessions on the latest industry developments was highly appreciated because of its strong and varied topics with interesting authorities and speakers. Electric vehicles, battery pack remanufacturing, and sustainable manufacturing are vital topics for the reman industry. With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, the industry must focus on remanufacturing battery packs to extend their lifespan and minimize waste. Rematec Amsterdam serves as a hub for sharing knowledge and fostering innovation, not only within the automotive aftermarket but also across various industries. The insights gained during the trade fair have far-reaching applications, offering potential for industry-wide expansion and advancement.

Collaborative innovations and global opportunities

Recognizing the growing importance of collaboration with academic institutions, renowned universities such as the University of Brighton, the University of Strathclyde, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Fraunhofer Research Institute, and Bayreuth University play a crucial role in driving research and development within the remanufacturing sector. Uniting academia and industry at Rematec Amsterdam enable us to stay at the forefront of innovation and elevate the industry to new heights.

The reopening of China presents significant opportunities for the remanufacturing industry, as the country boasts a well-represented presence at Rematec Amsterdam, including a Sino Government-State Talk. This forum was co-organised by CPRA, Sinomachint, NDRC, and European Council Circular Economy Department. The forum dove into the theme of Circular Economy and on the show floor, Rematec had a Chinese pavilion where exhibitors from China displayed their remanufacturing solutions and innovations. From 11-13 October Rematec Asia will be organised in Guangzhou, China.

About Rematec

Rematec is the only independent trade event to automotive remanufacturing worldwide and offers clarity, insight and opportunities for remanufacturers on these emerging technologies, as well as the latest state-of-the-art remanufacturing equipment, including parts cleaning, surface treatment, turbo balancing, testing and diagnostic equipment, and core supply and reman services.

About RAI Amsterdam

Bringing together people, both in-person and virtually, expands borders... it inspires! RAI Amsterdam has been bringing different worlds, people and markets together, at home and abroad, since 1893. The RAI is an international exhibition and convention company which organises events in the Netherlands and abroad and operates the RAI Convention Centre in the business district of Amsterdam. The RAI welcomes around 1.5 million visitors annually to approximately 500 events such as exhibitions, conventions and corporate and other events. The company also provides event-related services to organisers, exhibitors and visitors.