Trash into treasure

In the fast moving world of industrial automation, technological change is constant. Major manufacturers regularly discontinue older product lines and encourage customers to upgrade to new systems. For many factories, this means costly replacements, production interruptions, and the scrapping of equipment that could still function for years. 

According to Gerard Katje, founder of JC Electronics, there is often far more value in existing industrial equipment than companies realise. By recovering and refurbishing discarded components, his company is turning what many consider waste into valuable industrial assets. 

Manufacturers such as Siemens, Schneider and ABB sell millions of industrial components worldwide. After several years, these products are often classified as obsolete. Spare parts become harder to obtain and official support eventually stops. 

For factories, this can trigger expensive transitions. Entire production lines may need to be replaced, employees retrained, and systems reinstalled. These upgrades can lead to significant operational disruptions and costs, even when existing equipment could still operate reliably. Companies such as JC Electronics offer an alternative approach by extending the life of industrial electronics through refurbishment and component recover. 

Part of the company’s business model involves visiting factories where equipment is being dismantled or replaced. Many valuable components are often discarded simply because organisations assume they no longer have value. Gerard Katje compares the work to a form of treasure hunting. “We’re like the guys from National Geographic’s Auction Hunters,” Katje says. “They search old garages for Mustangs with hidden value. We search factories for rare industrial components.” 

Sometimes the discoveries are remarkable. Katje recalls one early experience at a sugar factory in the north of the Netherlands that was being dismantled. Expensive drives had been left outside in the rain during demolition. “We negotiated with the demolition team and bought the entire lot,” he explains. “After refurbishment we sold the parts worldwide. People often have no idea of the value they throw away.” 

A key part of the company’s mission is raising awareness among manufacturers about the hidden value of their equipment. Many factories still assume that outdated components should simply be discarded. “We try to explain that not everything old has lost its value,” Siebring says. “Once companies understand this, they often contact us again when they start their next renovation project.” 

He recalls visiting a paper factory in the Netherlands that planned to discard several pieces of equipment during a renovation project. After purchasing the items for ten thousand euros, the relationship with the factory continued. “They were delighted,” Siebring explains. “Now they call us every year when they start a new renovation phase.” 

Refurbishment does not only create economic value. It also offers clear environmental benefits. According to Gerard Katje, refurbished industrial electronics significantly reduce the use of raw materials and carbon emissions. “One refurbished product uses eighty five percent less CO2 and ninety five percent fewer raw materials compared to a new one,” he explains. 

By keeping existing equipment in circulation longer, refurbishment helps reduce electronic waste while giving companies a cost effective alternative to expensive system replacements. For many organisations, the result is a triple win. Buyers gain reliable replacement parts, sellers recover value from equipment that would otherwise be discarded, and the environment benefits from reduced resource consumption.