A Second Life – First Choice
The recycling company Reiling GmbH & Co. KG and Swecon Baumaschinen GmbH reveal what lies behind the success of a refurbishment project at the Anröchte site and what makes the project a prime example of cost-effectiveness, technology and sustainability.
Hard work in glass recycling: the Volvo L120H is back in full swing
At the Reiling GmbH & Co. KG glass recycling centre in Marienfeld, the work has to be carried out reliably every day: pushing piles of waste glass together, feeding processing plants, loading lorries – without a high-performance wheel loader, the flow of material comes to a standstill. For many years, this key role has been fulfilled by, amongst others, a Volvo L120H, which carries out heavy-duty work under the abrasive conditions of glass handling. Over time, however, the machine had visibly lost its lustre – both technically and visually, it was clear: it was time for a fundamental decision. But, rather than opting for a new purchase, Reiling chose a consistently sustainable approach: Swecon’s certified Volvo Rebuild Programme. “Through sustainability, we wanted to conserve resources and give our machines a new lease of life,” says Dirk Bessmann, Deputy Production Manager at Reiling GmbH & Co. KG, describing the customer’s objective.
Think economically, act sustainably
For many years, Reiling has been working closely with Swecon on the purchase, servicing, maintenance and spare parts for its Volvo fleet. Among other things, two Volvo L120H wheel loaders and one Volvo L20 wheel loader are already in operation at the Marienfeld site. Swecon’s Customer Service Manager, Frank Schaefer, and his team are thoroughly familiar with the L120H’s operational profile and the stresses it faces, and they knew that whilst the machine’s basic structure remained robust, wear and age called for a comprehensive technical refurbishment. “We had clear expectations: we wanted the refurbished L120H to run like a brand-new wheel loader afterwards. That was the aim,” says Bessmann. The plan paid off: significantly lower investment costs compared to buying a new machine, lower costs per operating hour and, at the same time, a clear commitment to resource conservation and the circular economy – an approach that fits perfectly with a recycling company like Reiling.
Eight weeks, 550 parts: the first rebuild in Anröchte
For Swecon’s Anröchte site, Reiling’s Volvo L120H was the first certified rebuild project and thus a real test of the team’s mettle. “It was a really exciting task to completely dismantle the wheel loader and then rebuild it from scratch,” reports Christian Spieth, the rebuild technician in charge at Swecon Baumaschinen GmbH. “For over eight weeks, myself and two other experienced colleagues were working on the wheel loader almost non-stop – from the initial dismantling right through to the final functional test.” The scope of the work was correspondingly extensive: “We replaced all the wiring harnesses on the wheel loader, overhauled the hydraulic cylinders, gave the axles a complete overhaul and fitted the engine and gearbox as new components,” Spieth explains. In total, around 550 listed original parts were replaced. In addition, the radiator assembly was overhauled, the hydraulic hoses were replaced and the mast was fitted with new bushings, including new bolts. “A major advantage was that all the key components could be retained: after the overhaul, the hydraulic cylinders were as good as new. The chassis, the mast and the axles were all fully operational again following the general overhaul,” said Spieth. Alongside the technical challenges, the project’s process structure was also key to its success: “This was our first Volvo rebuild at the site and a real challenge for everyone involved. We planned precisely which components were to be ordered and fitted in what order to keep everything within the specified timeframe. I’m really proud of how well the team worked together on this rebuild project,” summarises Spieth.
Just like a new wheel loader – including servicing and warranty
Following the major overhaul and the fitting of all new components, the Volvo L120H was brought up to the latest technical specifications, as applicable to the current model range. In terms of performance, efficiency and equipment, the wheel loader is – both visually and technically – just like a brand-new machine. Comprehensive functional tests and the handover, including training for the Reiling team, marked the completion of the rebuild process. Customers also face no compromises when it comes to warranty and service: “Following the completion of a Volvo Rebuild, customers receive the same warranty on the work carried out as they would upon delivery of a new machine. “Our customers can also take out additional individual maintenance and repair contracts,” emphasises Spieth. With the Volvo Rebuild concept, Swecon thus offers its customers not only an investment alternative but also the familiar peace of mind during day-to-day operations.
Test passed: 3,000 hours in a glass envelope
Just under a year after returning to Marienfeld, the refurbished Volvo L120H has already clocked up around 3,000 operating hours in glass recycling – in daily use piling up the mountains of glass, loading lorries and feeding the processing and crushing plants. The verdict is clear: “After 3,000 operating hours, we can say: it was the right decision for us. The machine is running just as well as it did on the first day, exactly as we expected from our partner Swecon,” sums up Bessmann. Malfunctions or unplanned breakdowns have not been an issue so far, and the operators say the wheel loader feels just like a brand-new machine to drive. For Reiling, this confirms the fundamental decision to opt for a Volvo Rebuild: economically sensible, technically impressive and sustainable in the best sense of the word – because existing resources are utilised and the machine’s service life is significantly extended.
Ready for the next new lease of life
For Swecon Anröchte, the rebuild of Reiling’s L120H marks an important milestone. “Following preliminary testing, it can be applied to almost all older Volvo machines. Our team at the Anröchte site is certainly ready for upcoming rebuild projects,” says Spieth. The combination of a certified process, a well-coordinated team and a concrete reference in the demanding glass recycling sector demonstrates the potential of the ‘second life for machines’ concept. Reiling is also already looking ahead: “We already have further ideas about which Volvo machines we could also have refurbished through the rebuild programme,” says Bessmann, looking to the future. What began in glass recycling in Marienfeld could thus become a model for other sites and industries – wherever sustainability is practised not only in terms of materials but also in the machinery used.
About Swecon
Swecon Baumaschinen GmbH, headquartered in Ratingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, has been a leading importer and dealer of premium construction machinery from Volvo Construction Equipment since 2003 and an Ammann dealer in Germany since 2023. This medium-sized company, with 20 sites – including its head office and two central warehouses for spare parts logistics – has a nationwide presence stretching from central Germany to the north and is part of the Swecon Group, which has branches in Sweden, Germany and the Baltic states. The Swecon Group is part of Volvo Construction Equipment.
Swecon’s product portfolio covers the entire range of Volvo construction machinery, including excavators, wheel loaders and dumpers, as well as the latest electric models. The portfolio is complemented by Ammann’s road construction products, which include pavers and heavy tandem rollers.
The company employs 550 staff, the majority of whom work in maintenance, repairs and spare parts supply. Application experts with extensive knowledge of machinery technology are on hand to answer any queries, alongside a service team and technical support available round the clock.
Over 300 service engineers ensure prompt repairs and maintenance every day. Spare parts can be ordered via the online shop at any time of the day or night. In addition, Swecon has a rental fleet comprising over 1,000 modern, high-quality machines. A wide selection of used machines from various manufacturers rounds off the machinery portfolio. The company is strongly committed to digitalisation and is setting industry standards through various initiatives in this area: in addition to an online shop for hire machinery, the company offers selected and pre-configured new machines for sale online via a sales platform. The digital customer portal ‘mySwecon’ was developed to offer customers 24/7 access to important information, services and support relating to the machinery and their business relationship – a personal digital assistant that brings together all key appointments and documents in one place, thereby making day-to-day work easier.
Volvo L120H wheel loader
