Wisetek is assembling ventilators at its facility in Cork, Ireland. | Patrik Slezak/Shutterstock
An Irish electronics recycling firm has converted its refurbishing line to focus on assembling ventilators. Meanwhile, the medical devices are drawing focus among right-to-repair advocates.
Market research firm Gartner noted that in the first quarter of 2020 shipments of new PCs around the world declined by 12.3% year over year. | N.Z.Photography/Shutterstock
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted worldwide supply and demand for new PCs, bringing both bad and good news for computer recyclers and refurbishers, according to Gartner.
Repair resource company iFixit has launched an effort to crowdsource repair information for key medical devices. | egyjanek/Shutterstock
Usually busy helping people fix their consumer gadgets, iFixit has turned its attention to the emerging need to maintain and repair hospital equipment.
ITAD company EPC reported a sharp increase in demand for notebook, tablet and desktop PCs throughout the U.S. and Canada as the need to work from home grows. | Sally B/Shutterstock
Processors across the U.S. say the coronavirus and resulting work-from-home orders have energized the market for refurbished electronics. In some cases, they can’t keep up with the needs of customers.
A European Commission plan calls for right-to-repair measures to be introduced by 2021. | Poravute Siriphiroon/Shutterstock
European lawmakers this week committed to enshrine greater device repairability in law, with their adoption of a Circular Economy Action Plan.
An EPC leader explained that the Edmonton region has sizable health care, energy and corporate sectors driving ITAD growth. | Maximumm/Shutterstock
The Canadian arm of ITAD operator EPC is expanding with a facility in the Edmonton area.
The significant growth in iFixit users from 2016 to 2018 seems to underscore ongoing interest in independent device repair. | Golubovy/Shutterstock
In a new academic paper, Josh Lepawsky examines the growth of do-it-yourself repair through the lens of iFixit’s worldwide expansion.
To participate in its Independent Repair Program, shops would be required to provide customer information to Apple. | Karol Ciesluk/Shutterstock
Documents obtained by Motherboard show just how onerous the requirements will be for repair shops wanting to participate in Apple’s new Independent Repair Program.
EcoATM owns mobile device buy-back kiosks in thousands of retail locations around the country. | ZikG/Shutterstock
Used phone purchasing company ecoATM appears to be bouncing back and growing rapidly, after it suffered financial losses and laid off staff in earlier years.
Free Geek Toronto received its first load of devices from Lanner this month. | New Africa/Shutterstock
A global OEM is working with a nonprofit recycling organization to get returned devices refurbished for reuse by individuals that otherwise wouldn’t have access to them.