July 11, 2024
Vestergaard Company’s products are known for their impressive durability and long service life. Usage data and experience show up to 30 years of continuous use. The long service life reduces the need for frequent replacement, thereby also the need to produce new units, saving resources and minimizing waste.
At the market’s larger operators, Vestergaard Company’s equipment will typically be replaced after 10-12 years of operation. This is often not caused by the condition of the equipment but by the operator’s wish to have an updated and homogenous fleet with the latest technology. Rather than scrapping the equipment when it is replaced, it will typically get a new life through resale. Some units can be resold directly without being changed, but we often contribute with an upgrade of the equipment so it can be adapted to the new operators’ needs. This “second life” concept prolongs the service life of the equipment considerably and ensures that it can continue to operate efficiently for many years, thereby contributing actively to the circular economy.
A concrete example of this practice can be illustrated with an older Elephant® GAMMA deicer, which was in use for an impressive 28 years before it received a second life in a Norwegian airport, where it has been in use for four additional years so far. Similarly, an Elephant® BETA was reused after ser-ving 13 years in Munich and was put into operation in Memmingen. These examples illustrate how our products frequently go through several life cycles, which reduces the total environmental impact.
Economic advantages are also a result of the possibility of upgrading the products and, hereby, a second life. The products’ high resale value when reselling after the first period of use makes them attractive to both first- and second-time buyers. The customers know that investments in our equipment are long-term and economically responsible, which further strengthens the incentive to choose high-quality equipment at the beginning. This not only creates economic value but also furthers a more sustainable economy by reducing the total costs and environmental impact of disposal and production of new equipment.
Vestergaard Company’s approach to recycling and circular economy represents a model for how companies can implement sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and create economic value. Through long-lasting quality products and a strong strategy for recycling and
upgrading, we show how we can contribute with more sustainable solutions in the industry.
