“Let’s not focus on the ‘r’ word, within a…

When discussing key attributes and intricacies within a Circular Economy the word that is bounded around more than any other is ‘Recycling’.  While recycling is a component of the Circular Economy, it should be by default the last and final by-product, and thus its status should be very much last in the conversation.

The dialogue that should precede the ‘R’ word should include such topics as; ‘Circular Design’, ‘Reuse’, ‘Rental’ and ‘as a Service’ or ‘subscription’.  Thankfully, global manufacturers are starting to consider these key objectives when developing products and services.  Questions such as; how can product design best compliment a circular economy and deliver sustainability with minimal impact on the environment are paramount.

As a smaller manufacturer, at Ultratest Solutions we still asked ourselves that very same question.  Let us look at how this steered our product development and philosophy when designing Genesis.

By the nature of our solution, Genesis is designed to enable the reuse of millions of Hard Drives & SSDs, rather than condemning them to the shredder and subsequently the waste stream.  All-be-that fantastic, we are still talking about the ‘R’ word or at best reuse & product upcycling.

We took the decision to develop our solution based on a ‘Rental’ and ‘Subscription’ model, so why?  Typically, one-off sales of product tend to be linear.  Products are sold and when no longer needed tend to be scrapped or hopefully repurposed.  Therefore, by working on a rental and subscription basis, we as the manufacturer, have understanding of where our products are and when a customer no longer requires the solution we have the ability to recall the hardware so that we can refurbish, update and re-deploy with a new client.  The subscription element is also crucial, as without it the product has no function, even should the product fall into the wrong hands, without our knowledge or consent, they would have to contact us enable functionality and bring any value back to the solution.  Thus enabling us to keep control of it use and lifespan.

Initial design and production methods are taken into account when developing solutions.  Genesis is designed in a modular format.  Where possible, non-proprietary products have been utilised, so that in the event a particular piece of equipment being no longer required, it can be repurposed for general use, outside of our intended application.

Initial design and production methods are taken into account when developing solutions.  Genesis is designed in a modular format.  Where possible, non-proprietary products have been utilised, so that in the event a particular piece of equipment being no longer required, it can be repurposed for general use, outside of our intended application.

Proprietary components of the solution have been designed in a method whereby individual components can be upgraded while retaining the highest number of standard components, such as metal chassis and drive load bays etc.

Since we lease our solutions and the customer is not the owner of the equipment, it is very easy to run client upgrade programs when required, as we have knowledge of the locations and ownership of the product.

This approach is far from being unique, but is generally rare for a small to medium size manufacturer.  However, it is a model that can be adopted by many and would greatly support the achievement a more sustainable existence.

We are happy to talk about our experiences and challenges, so please do feel free to make contact.

‘Can I make my ITAD process more profitable’?

Absolutely you can, let us explain how & why. We fully understand that End-User clients will stipulate which Data Erasure methods and certifications (CPA, Common Criteria, DIPCOG, TUV, NATO, ADISA etc.) to be used. Some may even demand a specific software vendor. It’s a minefield for customers, understanding what is current or historic, best practice or not and what is legally required. OK, so let’s see how ITAD’s can compliment or in some cases replace some of today’s model with innovative & clever technology.

ADISA is the only body to certify erasure on Solid State Drives (SSD) as part of their accreditations .

All ITAD’s have a existing method for ‘in-situ’ data erasure (wipe-in-device), for laptops, desktops & servers, as well as ad-hoc solutions for loose drives. We’ll explore how adding a complimentary technology, like Genesis, can add value to the process .

How do things operate today? In the traditional ITAD model (as per the fig. 1), if the drive fails the data wipe it would need to be physically destroyed to meet contractual obligations.

ITAD’s may also use an independent health-check software to test and verify the quality of storage devices prior to re-purposing. Any devices that have low heath may also be condemned to the shredder.

The enhanced model demonstrates… (see fig. 2) two huge advantages. Firstly, failed drives are recovered usually at a rate of over 60% allowing them to be repurposed & reused. Secondly, when processing loose drives there is no need for the use of additional third-party health-checking software.

Ultimately, the “Enhanced Recovery Model” provides; better sustainability through reduced waste, higher quality of products (with less RMA’s!) and an increased revenue stream by yielding more product for resale.

BEWARE… “An erased drive is not a fully tested drive”.

Not only does Genesis test, repair and erase a drive, it also runs a complex health-check algorithm to provide you with an accurate Guardian Score (% health). Delivering the highest confidence in product quality.

Don’t just take our word for it… The unique ability to repair, erase & test a drive has been fully verified and certified by ADISA. After a thorough examination and data forensics analysis, ADISA awarded Genesis with their ‘Product Assurance’ certification. More information can be found here on the ADISA website.

Taking it to the next level, you can use Genesis as your ‘one-stop-solution’ for repair & data erasure, providing even stronger financial gains, with reduced labour and licencing fees.

We’re confident of our technology… but, rather than taking our word for it, we’d be happy for you to trial our solution. Contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss your requirements.

Genesis is available in a range configurations to meet everyone’s needs. To find out more please click here.

*Yield figures are based on data from typical usage from devices that are not deemed as physically faulty or damaged.