ABI Electronics - Manufacturers of test, repair and reverse engineering systems

ABI and Repair, don't waste! were awarded a Sustainability Champion Award by Engineering Matters in recognition of our efforts to combat industrial E-waste! 🎉 Hundreds of companies nationwide submitted their projects including some of the biggest names in the UK. Created by ABI in 2015, #RepairDontWaste was one of this year's award winners. We have demonstrated the initiative's global reach, social and environmental impact, and financial gains with about US$50 Million saved a year by the Repair, don't waste! member organisations. The ceremony happened at the world-famous Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich, London, next to the historic Old Royal Naval College, a place described by UNESCO as being of "outstanding universal value", exactly like #RepairDontWaste! Get in touch to learn more about ABI's technologies and training that enable companies in sectors such as defence, aerospace, aviation, rail transport and renewable energy to repair, recover and reuse electronic circuit boards rather than throw them away. Special thanks to the ABI marketing and social media team, to the organisers and our advocate Matt Fletcher 🇬🇧 for giving evidence in support of our entry! #electronics #sustainability #EngineeringMatters #award #circulareconomy #repair #PCB

A YouTube follower left this very insightful comment under our recent #RepairDontWaste podcast 👇 "I remember when working in industry equipment refurbish & repair. It was damn funny seeing some high tech hardware with low cost and unreliable eg. caps. I've nearly always replace those with actual high end capacitors (85->105 deg, lower esr, higher ripple, longer endurance). Same with transistors or power modules. Many happy clients and obviously really reliable equipment for many years to come. Sure there were some items where PCB was badly burnt and tracks in inner layers destroyed. It definitively require much more work but usually those were models no longer produced anyway. So client would have to replace whole damn system (and adapt software) instead of repairing one faulty obsolete unit. On the other hand... now I'm working in Automotive. And guess what, I open up such tesla inverter. It's 150-250kW unit. Liquid cooled. It doesn't need as big capacitor bank as industrial inverters connected to mains. It's actually very small. But then... what happens if power module is damaged? Oh... you can remove the PCB, no problem. Then you end up with laser welded copper plates connecting U, V, W, DC+, DC- to power modules. Custom made power modules which aren't available on the market. Power modules soldered to heatsink. Now assembly process is cost effective. Disassembly, repair, reassembly hardly is. At some point it will be, but because those units will no longer be produced and available. So their price will gradually go higher and higher to the point repair will actually be viable option. Or one might just buy another car which seems to be the goal of car manufacturers and their "anti repairability approach"." #Repairdontwaste #ukmfg #electronics #sustainability #circulareconomy #ewaste #pcb

🤔Myth 4 "Only OEMs Can Repair Circuit Boards." Relying on OEMs for repairs can lead to long delays, high costs, and unresolved issues. Over the past 20 years, many OEMs have outsourced design and assembly, losing control over repairs. This has left critical sectors like defence, energy, and aviation facing poor service and steep maintenance fees. 💡The solution? Develop your own in-house repair capabilities. It's more affordable than you think and provides faster, reliable results. Investing in this can cut costs, improve asset management, and greatly enhance operational resilience. ❗Take control of your critical assets and stop depending solely on OEMs! #RepairDontWaste #ukmfg #electronics #sustainability #circulareconomy #ewaste #pcb #ABIRepairMyths

🚨 There’s a growing push to replace “old” tech because "our security can’t rely on obsolete designs.” But here’s the thing: not all old tech has a clear-cut shelf life! 💡Many critical systems still rely on legacy devices, and keeping these running is often safer—and way less expensive—than rushing into replacements. When we skip repairs at the integrated circuit (IC) level, known as level 3 repairs, we’re actually setting up for super costly recertifications later. 💸 Sometimes, repairing and respecting the classics isn’t just nostalgia—it’s smart engineering! 🔧 #RepairDontWaste #ukmfg #electronics #pcb #repair #sustainability #circulareconomy #defence #aerospace

🤔 Myth #4 "Only the OEM can repair the circuit boards." Original manufacturers have mostly lost the ability to repair electronics over the last 2 decades. With rare exceptions, relying on the manufacturer for repairs can have disastrous consequences, from months' long lead time to sub-notified obsolescence issues or even the return of the still faulty board accompanied by a hefty bill. The issue is complex. Outsourcing electronics design and assembly to a fragmented supply chain means that many manufacturers are no longer in control of what ships bearing their name. I've posted here over the years the appalling treatment given to customers of popular brands in defence, aviation, energy, rail by OEMs including blant disrespect for contracted obligations such as obsolescence notice and premiums added to already high prices for repairs to allow the recruiting of additional retired staff to complete the work in 6 rather than 9 months! Get a grip on your critical asset management, repair and reverse engineering by developing your own repair operation. It costs a lot less than you probably think and the return is often many times the value invested. Drop me a message and we will walk you through what's needed, costs, etc. #RepairDontWaste #ukmfg #electronics #sustainability #circulareconomy #ewaste #pcb #ABIRepairMyths

Myth #3 "Old electronics are not worth repairing" 🤦🏻 I recently posted photos of legacy military boards that were scrapped and it caused a lot of commotion here on LinkedIn (link in the comments section). Many argued that if a piece of technology is old it should be replaced on the basis that "our national security can't rely on obsolete designs". It's very worrying when we see this mindset developing in the new generation, among technical people who haven't really been exposed to the intricacies of legacy designs and why it's so important to repair old-looking devices that many programs rely on. Lack of repair down to IC level (a.k.a level 3) leads to hugely costly recertification soon or later in the critical systems industry. #RepairDontWaste #ukmfg #electronics #pcb #repair #sustainability #circulareconomy #defence #aerospace

🧐 Myth 2 - "Repair takes too long and delays the operation" The push to replace electronic circuit boards purely for efficiency often leads to operational vulnerability through obsolescence, as we've seen since the pandemic. Such replacements can even bring entire operations to a standstill. Outsourcing repairs for legacy or out-of-warranty equipment can be an expensive choice. Many OEMs no longer have the capacity to repair their own branded equipment, and lead times in sectors like defence, rail, energy, and semiconductor manufacturing can stretch to months. Let’s talk about how the #RepairDontWaste movement can empower you to establish a resilient in-house repair program and protect against obsolescence. #Repair #Electronics #ElectronicsRepair #PCB #PCBRepair #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #Ewaste #UKMFG #Defence #Rail #Aviation #Aerospace #Automotive #Semiconductors #Energy #ABIRepairMyths #RepairMyths #Podcast

🤔 Myth #2 "Repair takes too long and delays the operation". The idea that you should replace electronic circuit boards for the sake of efficiency expose the business to obsolescence and it could halt the entire operation as we've been seeing since the pandemic. Delegating the repair of legacy or out of warranty equipment to your supply chain can be a costly decision. OEMs have largely lost the ability to repair their own branded equipment and lead times can easily reach several months in the case of defence, rail, energy or semiconductor manufacturing sectors, for example. Get in touch to learn how ABI and #RepairDontWaste can help you build and deploy a robust in-house repair and obsolescence mitigation operation! #ukmfg #electronics #sustainability #circulareconomy #ewaste #pcb #ABIRepairMyths

😤 Myth #1 in the electronics industry: "Replacing is more cost-effective than repairing" On our most recent #RepairDay podcast, we explored how harmful industry myths like this one continue to spread. Many people underestimate the importance of repair knowledge, technologies, and standards, leading to an increase in e-waste—the most visible consequence of this misunderstanding. But the unseen losses in money, skills, and resources, are just as significant, even if they're harder to measure. More shorts to come! #RepairDontWaste #Repair #Electronics #ElectronicsRepair #PCB #PCBRepair #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #Ewaste #UKMFG #Podcast #RepairDontWastePodcast #RepairMyths #ABIRepairMyths

🔧#ElectronicsRepair isn't just an option, it’s a game changer! Companies that prioritise the repair and maintenance of their assets can unlock massive economic and environmental benefits and is essential to building a circular economy. Instead of disposing #circuitboards as e-waste, let’s unlock the potential of repairing and even better, doing it in-house! 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁? Join #RepairDontWaste movement and start repairing today. Share your repair stories with us in the comments or tag us to show how you’re embracing in-house repair! #RepairDontWaste #Repair #Fixing #Electronics #PCB #Ewaste #UKMFG #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Semiconductor #Defence #Aviation #Aerospace #Automotive #Rail #Energy #WinnieThePooh