In the quiet town of Hörstel, Germany, a family-run business is breathing new life into aging industrial machines. BMU, a company supplying wood components wrapped in plastic film to the furniture and construction sectors, has chosen a sustainable path forward.
Instead of investing in costly new equipment, Managing Director Claus-Dieter Brinkmann is retrofitting decades-old machinery — a process that involves gutting outdated systems and rebuilding them with modern, energy-efficient components. This approach not only saves money but also allows for custom solutions tailored to today’s production needs.
Sustainability meets innovation in industrial engineering
Retrofitting is more than a cost-saving measure — it's a powerful tool for sustainability. In Germany, where industrial machines typically last 15 to 25 years, energy efficiency standards evolve dramatically during their lifespan. BMU's machines, some over 30 years old, are stripped down to their steel frames and rebuilt with refurbished motors and systems. This process significantly reduces the need for raw materials like steel and copper, which are energy-intensive to produce.
Experts like Roman Dumitrescu from the Fraunhofer Institute highlight the environmentalbenefits: retrofitting avoids the emissions and resource demands of manufacturing from scratch, helping companies meet Germany's ambitious goal of cutting raw material use by one-third by 2030.
The retrofitting process doesn't end in Germany. Companies like Wehrmann and GINDUMAC are part of a growing global market for used industrial machinery. Once refurbished, these machines are resold — often to rapidly industrializing regions in Asia. This circular approach not only extends the life of valuable equipment but also supports global sustainability goals. As energy prices rise and environmental regulations tighten, retrofitting offers a smart, scalable solution for industries worldwide looking to modernize without starting from zero.