Maximizing lifecycle value with circular solutions

Our service operations extend the lifecycle of equipment through preventive and predictive maintenance, repair and remanufacturing of parts, and modernization and retrofitting. Our commitment to accelerating circularity spans from business models to waste management in our own operations. 

Circular economy aims to get more value from existing products while decoupling value creation from resource consumption, optimizing resource use within industries. Working together with our value chain, we can enable more efficient use of raw materials, extend equipment lifetime, increase energy efficiency, and create value for all parties. Building our processes around circular economy principles helps us improve our resource and energy efficiency and eliminate waste while creating value for the customer by reducing their carbon footprint. We have one of the largest service networks using modern technical solutions to unlock unique circular economy opportunities that benefit customers. 

Our solutions

Our product design is guided by design principles that prioritize repairability, modularity, durability, and material and energy efficiency. Customers benefit from durable equipment that can be repaired, modernized, and kept in operation longer, improving production uptime. Significant cost and resource savings also come from renting, repairing, modernizing, and choosing used, fully serviced equipment. 

Modernizations and retrofits enhance energy efficiency and performance by reducing raw material use, lowering logistics‑related emissions, and decreasing the energy required in manufacturing. They also improve safety, productivity, reliability, and usability while reducing the need for repairs and unplanned maintenance.

Our service business supports the circular economy by extending equipment lifecycles through repairs, corrective and predictive maintenance, and remanufacturing. Predictive maintenance helps customers maximize lifecycle value by using real‑time data to determine when components need attention, reducing the movement of goods and people, optimizing resource use, and preventing unplanned service hours. This digital and circular approach promotes smarter maintenance decisions, longer product lifecycles, and consistently high equipment performance.

Our equipment consist primarily of different types of metals, like steel or aluminum, and around 90% of the material weight are metals, which can be recycled. When the equipment has reached its end-of-life raw materials can be still utilized further.

Konecranes circular solutions in a nutshell

  • The design of Konecranes products is based on design principles focusing on maintainability, modularity, durability as well as material and energy efficiency. 
  • Maintenance and repairs are the key to extending the lifecycle, and by using predictive maintenance our customers can maximize the lifecycle value of their products. Using data to predict component or equipment failure optimizes all activities and thus saves resources and reduces emissions.    
  • The equipment can be retrofitted and modernized several times during its lifespan.   
  • With predictive maintenance, we guarantee that the customer has their equipment in use when needed with as few maintenance visits as possible; this creates greater cost understanding and keeps performance levels high. 

Our efforts to deliver maximum circular value through our solutions

Equipment design enables circularity

Our products are designed with their entire lifecycle in mind.  

In product development, we utilize the Design for Environment (DfE) concept, which among other aspects considers the modularity, durability, component repairability as well as energy and material efficiency to reduce the environmental impact of our products’ lifecycles.

To provide accurate data on the environmental impact for decision-making, we calculate products’ energy consumption and CO2 emissions and critically assess this data with the help of a third party.

Service and spare parts extend equipment lifetime

We offer one of the industry’s largest service networks, supported by modern digital tools that enable circular economy opportunities and deliver clear customer benefits. Through repair, maintenance, retrofitting, remanufacturing and modernization, we help extend the lifetime of equipment and improve safety, productivity and efficiency. Rebuilding components and overhauling hoists further support longer lifecycles and lower environmental impact.

Our circular approach also includes selling fully serviced used equipment, restoring Lift Trucks, and offering battery‑as‑a‑service for our E‑VER electric heavy forklifts—reducing upfront investment and maintaining machine value.

Remanufacturing combines efforts to apply circular economy principles, promoting efficient raw material use, energy savings, and emissions reduction. Remanufacturing involves repairing products or components in Konecranes service centers to be as good as new, extending their lifetime and minimizing downtime for customers.

An illustrative case involves remanufacturing a rope drum used in heavy-duty cranes. Instead of replacing the entire component, Konecranes service centers repair it to function as good as new, saving customers weeks of downtime. The remanufacturing process involves precision pre-machining and filler welding, ensuring a comparable lifetime and durability for new components. Beyond the immediate customer benefits of reduced downtime, remanufacturing significantly decreases the carbon footprint, with calculations indicating nearly a one-third reduction in the case of the rope drum.

Modernizations and retrofits maximise product’s lifetime value

Modernizations can completely transform existing cranes by replacing high‑maintenance or obsolete components with newer technology and adding new functionalities. These upgrades extend service life, enhance energy efficiency and performance, and reduce material use and emissions. Compared to full crane replacements, modernizing existing structures can significantly cut CO₂ emissions.

Our hybrid retrofits give possibility to turn port cranes such as diesel rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) into diesel-electric hybrid RTGs. After the retrofit the crane is operated with electrical power from the battery and diesel generator. The energy from braking is recharged to the battery. Hybrid retrofit lowers fuel consumption and reduces maintenance and running cost. It is a resource efficient way to lower use phase emissions and crane’s noise levels.
Learn more: Ecolifting Retrofits

Digital solutions optimize the equipment performance

Digitalization is one enabler in the low-carbon and circular economy transformation. Digital solutions help optimize the movement of goods (e.g., parts) and people (e.g., service personnel).

Our digital services such as TRUCONNECT enable predictive maintenance, helping optimize spare‑part needs and prevent unplanned downtime. Real-time condition monitoring means maintenance can be carried out based on actual usage rather than fixed intervals and can also signal the need for upgrades. By using real‑time data to guide maintenance decisions, we support smarter resource use and longer equipment lifecycles.

Our recently launched Predictive Maintenance Engine continuously follows customer crane lifecycle data to predict the need for service before a breakdown occurs and more extensive repairs are needed. The engine automatically creates a case for our sales team so they can quickly initiate service for the customer.