Seco Tool Reconditioning Service Grows by Over 30% And Continues to Increase

As one of the fastest growing end mill and drill areas in the Seco Tools portfolio,
the company’s solid-round tool reconditioning service experienced an increase in use by over 30% in 2022.

In addition to significant cost savings for customers, a Seco reconditioned tool regains 85% to 95% of its
original performance compared to tools that are reground or resharpened. Without having to readjust
parameters or sacrifice performance, the reconditioned tool performance lives up to today’s advanced
machining strategies, for example, in dynamic milling where only a small portion of a tool’s diameter is
engaged in the cut. Manufacturers also boost their sustainability and help reduce emissions per part as well
as those needed to produce new solid round tools from virgin raw materials.

Reconditioning versus regrinding
The regrinding process sharpens a tool’s cutting edges. Seco reconditioning, on the other hand, brings round
tools back to a level close to their original condition in terms of properties and performance. This level of
quality is guaranteed by Seco, and today’s shops demand this assurance, especially when considering
process stability for automated and unmanned operations.

Benefits of the Seco process
The same process used for new tool manufacturing is applied when Seco reconditions a tool. This includes
all relevant grinding steps on the same type of machine with the same programs, wheel types as well as the
reapplication of coatings that were applied when the tool was produced new. Seco identifies the tool and its
reconditioning program that matches all original/as-new specifications and applies all the necessary micro
and geometrical properties.

Plus, Seco reconditioning can be applied to the same tool typically two or three times to significantly extend
its working life. Each of these reconditioning cycles, according to Ruud Zanders, Global Reconditioning Lead
at Seco Tools, are also done at a cost level of half to one-third of the price of a new tool. “The savings,” he
said, “are represented in a simple way by the equation 1+3=2 (one new tool cost plus three reconditions
equates to the price of two new tools).”

Reconditioning contributes to a circular economy
Contributing to the circular economy’s three basic principles (waste and pollution elimination, products and
materials circulation, and nature regeneration), the reconditioning program by Seco Tools helps shops
maximize the lifecycle of round tools, keeps products in use longer and reduces the impact on the
environment. Tools can be reused through reconditioning then finally be recycled.