Celebrating reman - Rematec 2017

This edition of the world’s best-known remanufacturing show was the biggest yet, with more exhibitors, new reman sectors and a packed speaker programme. Here are some of the highlights…

More people than ever before streamed into Rematec 2017 at RAI Amsterdam – the ninth edition of the biggest remanufacturing show in the world. Everyone was there to meet new and old contacts, to pick up fresh ideas – and, above all, to do business.

At a glittering opening ceremony in the Rematec Theatre, visitors were welcomed by ReMaTecNews editor Adam Hill, who announced the winner(s) of the Remanufacturer of the Year Award (see box) after a few words from Clemens Ortgies, president of FIRM, and Daniel Koehler, the new chairman of APRA Europe – ReMaTec’s organising partners. Breaking with tradition, the keynote speaker was from the consumer electronics industry: Rogier van Camp, CEO of LEAPP Group International, explained how his firm has disrupted Apple’s market by actively refurbishing iPhones, iPads, Macs and MacBooks.

It was an intriguing presentation, in keeping with a key theme in Amsterdam: the celebration of reman’s diversity. As Bas Dalm, senior vice president, international exhibitions and sales at Rematec organiser RAI, explained: there are big ambitions for the show. While keeping automotive and heavy duty reman at its heart, this year’s exhibition broadened its reach by also involving remanufacturers from other new sectors such as IT, healthcare, aviation and maritime.

At a high-level roundtable discussion on European reman to end the opening ceremony, there was a revealing recognition of the common ground between representatives of all these industries. The challenges of the future will be met by learning from one another.