Repair, Don't Waste!

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

"About 2.8 million tonnes of obsolete AI servers could be avoided by extending their life span by one year." Repair, Don't Waste! Willian Santos 🇬🇧 https://lnkd.in/gS4fmkPB

Technology obsolescence in the defence sector can only be mitigated through repairing and reusing existing equipment. We're proud to empower defence agencies to reduce costs for local taxpayers and improve mission readiness by developing in-house electronic repair capabilities worldwide. This latest project in Saudi Arabia is a great example of how agencies can get ahead of the curve by implementing corrective and predictive maintenance policies for some of their most critical assets, independently from 3rd parties and foreign suppliers. #RepairDontWaste #ukmfg #defence #electronics #obsolescence #sustainability #circulareconomy #PCB #repair

🚨 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 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

FINALLY a comprehensive guide on Circular Electronics! This is the best document that I've come across in my career. It's got practical advice based on actual research for all stakeholders. I love page 30 as it shows the authors have been following our posts here on LinkedIn and RepairDontWaste.com I will leave the link to download the full document with 612 pages in the comments section. You can download the Executive Summary by clicking on the download button below. Fantastic work Circular Electronics Partnership! Thank you John Gertsakis and Mend It, Australia for bringing this to my attention. I will look to support CEP however possible and we will be breaking down this guide in future articles to ease comprehension and application. #RepairDontWaste #electronics #ukmfg #PCB #sustainability #circulareconomy #obsolescence #repair #Ewaste

😤 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