01732 759725 38 are cleaned, tested, and often enhanced. Some units being refurbished are more than two decades old. Maria Selecka, Production & Quality Manager, puts it bluntly: “Size isn’t everything, but in this case, it really is. We do more, in more ways, in more places, for more customers than anyone else in the Brother Group.” 20 years of innovation Brother’s cartridge remanufacturing started in 2004 in Wrexham, Wales, but quickly expanded. By 2007, operations had moved to central Europe, where the former dairy factory in Krupina was completely refurbished. Initially launching with just one toner model (the TN6600), the site now remanufactures around 80 different SKUs. “We’ve grown from 27 to about 240 employees,” Lawrence said. “Since starting its remanufacturing operations the Brother Group has remanufactured 41 million units globally, and we’ve made a significant contribution to that number since our incorporation here in Slovakia.” These numbers are more than just impressive – they’re industry-leading. Brother boasts a 23% remanufactured sales rate in Europe, outpacing Japan (11%) and the U.S. (9%). It has also built collection schemes across 27 countries to feed this effort. “We’re not just refurbishing. We’re rebuilding to original specification,” Lawrence added. “Some cartridges go through two or even three remanufacturing cycles.” Data-driven design Remanufacturing isn’t just about the present – it’s about shaping the future. Key technical Information from the BISK site is being fed upstream to Brother’s global R&D teams in Japan. contender for those SMBs looking for printing devices that can deliver on the full range of key sustainability attributes. Brother’s products can help customers reduce their environmental impact through a broad range of eco‑friendly product features. Brother should also be on the short list of vendors when looking for a supplier that is investing to drive sustainability throughout its own operations, including a keen focus on biodiversity conservation activities.” Jones continued: “We have this incredible infrastructure sitting behind us which will give all our customers a choice about their sustainability, it’s a major selling factor for our partners. We think we’re the best-kept secret in the market and now’s the time to be bolder about communicating it.” To uncover that secret, PrintIT Reseller was invited to Brother’s remanufacturing plant in Krupina – known as BISK – to witness first-hand the scope of its operations and to help communicate this innovation to the wider reseller channel. What we found was more than just toner being refilled, it was a philosophy in action, where sustainability, advanced engineering, and circular economy principles come together in one of the cleanest, most efficient factories in Europe. From recovering cartridges over 20 years old to achieving 99% reuse on certain models, Brother is redefining what responsible technology looks like. And with mounting legislative pressure – like France’s mandate that 20% of public procurement must now include recycled products – Brother’s vision isn’t just ahead of the curve. It is the curve. More than recycling Dave Lawrence, the Factory Director at BISK explained: “We recycle more things in more ways from more places than any other factory in the Brother Group. But when we say remanufacturing, we mean we reuse the cartridge and sell it again as new. In fact, I’d argue better than new.” The remanufacturing process at BISK isn’t about shredding, melting, or downcycling. It’s about restoring and upgrading products to original standards – or even exceeding them. Cartridges When it comes to environmental responsibility in the print industry, most vendors still talk about recycling. But for Brother, that’s just the beginning. At the heart of its European operations, nestled in the Slovakian town of Krupina, is a remanufacturing facility that may be one of the industry’s most advanced – and least known – assets. That is exactly what Brother wants to change. “We want to really dial up our messaging about the difference between remanufacturing and recycling,” said Phil Jones, Brother UK’s Managing Director. “Often customers think they might be doing the right thing environmentally using a recycled cartridge however without robust quality control and manufacturing standards they may be doing the opposite given the complex supply chains and routes to market, that now exist.” IDC Marketscape has just ranked Brother a global leader in this area. According to its recent Worldwide Hardcopy Remanufacturing 2025 vendor assessment IDC cited: “Brother is a strong Why remanufacturing, not recycling, is the future of sustainable print Brother’s best-kept secret REMANUFACTURING
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