Refurbished laptops, phones or cameras: Many of us know them from advertisements or might even own such a device ourselves. Refurbished products – that is, used products which are professionally reprocessed – are the more economical and more sustainable choice compared to their brand-new counterparts.

Refurbishment not only works well for consumer electronics, but also for spare parts in mechanical engineering. The proof: Recently, Krones Lifecycle Service has started offering refurbished spare parts alongside new ones. “By giving existing materials a second life, we reduce our carbon footprint, contribute to responsible resource management, and offer our customers cost-effective alternatives to new parts,” says Shannon Kerscher from Krones Lifecycle Service. And these are by no means inferior to new parts, as Kerscher continues: “Our refurbished parts undergo a comprehensive refurbishment process, which includes strict quality controls and tests. This ensures that they meet the same standards as new parts and offer the same warranty.”

The advantage for our customers? A price saving of up to 40 percent compared to a new part and an eco-friendly product. Furthermore, the refurbishment of spare parts enables quick provision and availability of refurbished parts. This allows Krones to minimise delivery times, so downtimes at our customers’ sites can be kept as short as possible. “Our extensive portfolio includes reconditioned components in the fields of drive technology, electronics, mechanics and pneumatics,” says Shannon Kerscher. “And we are working continuously on expanding our range.”

As the pictures show: After careful reprocessing, the refurbished parts are as ready for use and reliable as their brand-new counterparts.

A process that began last year with an employee survey recently culminated in two workplace awards. Krones Inc. in Franklin, Wisconsin was honored as a “Top Workplace” both nationally by USA Today and locally by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

As part of the “Top Workplaces” program, Krones Inc. team members were asked to complete an anonymous workplace survey in late 2024. Using analytics to measure different aspects of the workplace experience, this research-backed engagement survey served as the backbone for both the national and regional award programs. Measuring themes of commitment, motivation, and energy, “Top Workplaces” uses benchmarks gained from years of analytics work with thousands of employers to determine its honorees. Over 600 Krones Inc. team members responded to the survey, with their positive responses leading directly to “Top Workplace” honors.

Having received some of the highest cumulative rankings among over 225 local companies, and thousands more nationally, Krones Inc. was happy to officially accept the “Top Workplaces” awards, first at a national event in Las Vegas, then again in a local Milwaukee-based ceremony. Obtaining the “Top Workplaces” badge is one of the highest marks of quality and proof that Krones Inc. is a destination workplace with a people-first culture. Just as one of the core statements of our employer brand describes: “With Krones I live a good life.”

“Being awarded on both a national and regional scale as a Top Workplace is a true honor that speaks volumes about our team,” says Holger Beckmann, CEO of Krones Inc. “As they exemplify our core values on a daily basis, it’s the passionate individuals that make up the Krones workforce that bring the Krones culture to life.”

Learn more about the “Top Workplaces” program and see the Krones Inc. employer profile.