Trier University of Applied Sciences · Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld
Remanufacturing: meet, learn, automate
Since 2020 we have been bringing research and industry together around remanufacturing – online, on campus and at Rematec. Now we also offer this know-how as consulting.
Remanufacturing restores used products – cores – to a like-new condition, with the same warranty as new parts. It saves raw materials and energy and opens new business models. What it needs: reliable inspection, efficient disassembly and cleaning, good data – and more and more automation. That is what we work on at the Birkenfeld Institutes of Technology (BIT), and that is what our symposia are about.
Next dates
Coming up
17 November 2026 · 14:00–15:30 CET · online
online symposium
Disassembly & circular business models
Eric Holle (ZeMA) on disassembling fuel cell stacks and Robert Trebus (VPLT) on circular business models in media and event technology – 90 minutes on MS Teams, in English, free of charge.
at Rematec
Robotics & automation for remanufacturing
At Rematec Amsterdam 2027 we are organising re.automate: an open experience area with live demonstrators, technology providers and short impulses every hour – and a consulting point for your automation questions.
15–16 September 2027
Two days of talks, lab tours and networking on innovation and automation in remanufacturing – the on-site symposium returns to campus.
What we offer
Four ways in
re.online – the online series
Ninety minutes, online, in English, free of charge: talks from research and industry and an open Q&A. Since 2020, 17 editions so far.
Series and archive →
re.fact – the on-site symposium
Two days at Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld with top speakers, lab tour and dinner. Look back at re.fact 25 and save the date for re.fact 27.
Review and outlook →
re.automate – at Rematec 2027
An experience area for robotics and automation in remanufacturing at Rematec Amsterdam, curated by Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld.
The concept →
re.consulting – consulting & expertise
From an initial orientation to workshops and joint projects: we support companies with remanufacturing, eco-design and automation.
Our offers →In numbers
- 17editions of the online series since July 2020
- 3on-site symposia: 2019, 2024 and re.fact 25
- 20+ongoing research projects at BIT
- 35+people at BIT – computer science, mechanical, process and industrial engineering
Why remanufacturing
A central building block of the circular economy
Sustainability
Saves raw materials and energy and reduces waste and emissions.
Resource efficiency
Extends product life cycles and reduces dependence on new resources.
Business
High-quality products at lower cost – and new markets for cost-sensitive customers.
Compliance
Meets growing environmental regulation, from eco-design to the digital product passport.
Contact
Contact us
Do you have questions about remanufacturing, eco-design or automation – or would you like to present your innovation at one of our symposia? Contact us, we will get back to you.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Vette-Steinkamp
Trier University of Applied Sciences, Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld
Birkenfeld Institutes of Technology (BIT)