From artwork to the new-look Remanufacturer of the Year Awards, there was a lot to admire in 2018. And despite financial difficulties there is loads to look forward to in 2019. Especially if you like robots…
Love was in the air in 2018. Jack Stack kicked off the year instyle in ReMaTecNews. In an in-depth interview, the veteran businessman revealed that he sees himself as a gambler – not a risk taker – but crucially, after decades in charge of SRC Holdings, he is still in love with reman. He set the tone: there was love of a different kind when the art world met reman in Morocco. Local craftsmen built a replica of a Caterpillar C18 engine out of wood and copper for conceptual artist Eric van Hove, a project in which remanufacturer Hamofa Industrial Engines was intrigued to be involved: “I love engines – and he has the same thing about his art,” said Hamofa’s Rob Verhoeven. Fair enough. Brotherly love was a theme of the interview with German remanufacturer Hetzel, which celebrated its 25th birthday this year. “It’s a big surprise for many people how we can get along together for such a long time,” smiled Ulrich of his brother Edgar. Well, it works for them. There was certainly nothing but bonhomie at Frankfurt, where the three winners of the new-look Remanufacturer of the Year Award were announced.
Amid the happiness, there are always lows, of course. Apple consumer products remanufacturer LEAPP ran into difficulty, but is hopefully coming sout the other side now. Also, Bayreuth University’s Rolf Steinhilper retired after 40 years of tirelessly promoting reman in Europe and worldwide – although it must be said he did not look too unhappy about it, and does not show many signs of slowing down yet.
Anyway, to 2019: it’s a ReMaTec year, so see you in Amsterdam in June... and then perhaps in Guangzhou in September for a new ReMaTec show – ReMaTec Asia. And you don’t have to be a gambler to bet on the fact that we are all going to hear more – much, much more – about robots in reman over the next 12 months. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.
