NRwell Ltd specialises in supplying obsolete spares to industries such as Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Transport, Food & Beverage and Plastics & Packaging. But just how important are the obsolete spares in the industrial automation market?

What makes a product obsolete?

Product obsolescence occurs when a company no longer produces, markets or supports a sold or developed product. Most products have a limited life cycle and at some point, will no longer be available for sale.

Obsolete does not necessarily mean that the part is underperforming. Technology and product design are always evolving, and new products supersede the existing based on purpose, technology requirements and costs. This increasing speed of technological change also means that equipment components are prone to quicker obsolescence.  

When a product reaches the end of a life cycle, it is often replaced by an updated version or even a totally different product. The items no longer up to date result in faster landfill contribution, damaging our environment if not disposed of correctly, unless the plastic and metal components can be recycled. According to HSE, every year an estimated 2 million tonnes of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling (WEEE) items are discarded by companies in the UK. Technology advancements have changed manufacturing and systems, with ever-changing product lifespans.

 “By diverting and making good use of many spares that would result in early waste, we can help the environment and encourage companies to use the parts readily available, which is also a faster solution in the event of a breakdown” Nawfal El Idrissi – International Business Manager at NRwell. 

Saving Time & Money

A large-scale machinery system update would contribute to many more parts resulting in large waste, realms of paperwork, added costs and can be time consuming. Making a straightforward replacement the easiest choice. Company cost analyses can help decide whether installing new equipment or keeping the old one is more effective. By replacing an individual faulty spare, it can lead to an increased lifespan on the whole machinery line – helping our environment and helping the companies expenses too! By investing in obsolete spares, the product’s lifespan also is not reduced and will be used for the full intended life span. 

Obsolete vs Successor

In the event of machinery breakdowns occurring due to a faulty part, a replacement is quickly required. However, this can be a challenge if the part needed is obsolete. Why? Many companies will turn to the OEM for the product, which may no longer offer that model and offer an alternative successor. While successors bring enhanced features for components, modules, software, and subsystems, new technology creates compatibility issues with older software and hardware. Subsequently, in some cases other supporting software or products must be purchased too and can be costly. This means that when these components break or experience a malfunction, direct replacements can be hard to find. 

Avoid Unexpected Downtime

Sourcing the exact obsolete part needed can be a cheaper alternative to upgrading to new systems. Since a failure of components would impact the functionality of the overall system, a faster solution to get back up and running would also help avoid unexpected downtime.  

Broken machines and faulty parts affect businesses productivity. According to a Oneserve research study, in the UK alone, £31,000 and 49 hours of work is lost annually per British manufacturing company. That is three per cent of all working days a year lost, due to faulty machinery. But downtime also leads to lost business opportunities, maintenance/repair costs and urgent replacement parts! By companies investing in back-up machinery spares and obsolete spares, the business can keep moving, without delays.

How do companies locate an obsolete product in such a large market? Is it really like looking for a needle in a haystack? 

Obsolete parts do not have to be difficult to source. With the stresses of downtime, a constant pressure on maintenance teams, sourcing a like-for-like replacement can be quick and easy with the help of a specialised supplier. NRwell Ltd supplies new, refurbished and obsolete parts to customers worldwide with international branches located in the UK, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Mexico, Chile and Peru.

NRwell’s international teams of dedicated account managers offer high quality service, fast quotes and emergency replacement spares, ensuring client’s machinery gets back up and running in no time. Having a global network of partner suppliers and holding thousands of spares in stock, NRwell can dispatch spares the same day, with express delivery to customers worldwide. 

Being specialised in the obsolete market, NRwell strives to make it easier for companies and locate the hard-to-find spares. There are many obsolete products at the reach of your fingertips within the Industrial Automation market that NRwell supplies and holds stock of, such as Soft-starters, Inverters, Drives, Sensors, Motors and Accessories. Many of which are from legacy brands, such as Telemecanique, Square D and Merlin Gerin - once part of Schneider Electric. In addition, obsolete components produced by GE Fanuc, Siemens, Control Techniques, Eurotherm, Fanuc and Omron. There are hundreds of manufacturers now with obsolete products, NRwell’s team is here to help you find your required part.

NRwell also supplies a wide range of new and refurbished PLC’s, HMI’s, Motors, Drives, Safety Automation, CNC Systems and General Automation from world-leading manufacturers ABB, Sick, Eaton, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi, Danfoss, Phoenix Contact and many more- at competitive prices and with 12 months warranty! 

Looking to repair your part instead? Component repairs could also be a cost effective alternative. NRwell offers free evaluations for repairs of PLC’s, Servo Motors, Inverters, Drives, Robotics, CNC’s, PCB’s and HMI’s, with a No fix - No Fee policy, 12 months warranty and with express options available. Visit www.nrwell.com for more information or contact sales@nrwell.com to find your spares today!

www.nrwell.com