AHEAD OF NEW EU RULES

General manager Pål Haugen at OmBrukt AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Electronics Industry Foundation, says the scheme is being used increasingly.

– We are still seeing a rapid increase in the use of Repair Guarantee. This shows that it is well-focused among our partners, and that the scheme is perceived as useful, says Haugen to the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen.

– I am now also receiving inquiries from suppliers who want to be able to recommend Repair Guarantee directly to consumers, who have contacted them after the expiration of the regular warranty, says Haugen.

OmBrukt's insurance product Repair Guarantee provides a two-year warranty on repairs of white goods between five and eight years old. The scheme covers one new repair with a deductible, and the workshop is reimbursed for the cost through the insurance.

– The goal is to make repair safer and more attractive, since we know that most customers prefer to repair rather than buy new, says Haugen.

From January 2026, only original serial numbers will be used on OmBrukt products. Haugen says this works without major challenges.

– We experience few problems with suppliers who require serial numbers to be removed upon crediting, as was the case previously. A few suppliers are a bit slow, but this resolves itself over time, says Haugen.

New EU rights

Registration of sales as well as damage and repair registration he describes as uncomplicated.

– Everything works well, and there are few questions related to registration in the MAB, Else, and OmBrukt's own database systems, says Haugen.

Right to Repair provides from August a one-year warranty on the entire product after a repair carried out within the normal warranty period. Haugen expects that this will apply in Norway, as with previous regulations.

– The customer gets a one-year warranty on the entire product after a repair, not just on the repair itself. This will apply throughout Europe, including Norway, says Haugen.

He emphasises that Norway is already ahead with OmBrukt's warranty scheme.

– We have a Repair Warranty for two years for any new repair. The workshops do not have to cover the cost themselves during this period. It is covered by the insurance the industry itself has put in place through its own company, namely OmBrukt, says Haugen.

He believes this is an important reason why more workshops are signing up for the scheme each month.

Simple workflow

According to Haugen, the scheme requires minimal extra work.

– In MAB or Else, the registration is almost automatic, with just a few extra clicks. Workshops that do not have these systems can easily register the products in OmBrukt's database, he says.

Quick payout of claims settlement is also highlighted.

– If reporting happens on a Monday, the money is in the account the same week, says Haugen.

OmBrukt expects that both repair and reuse will become increasingly important. Rights, warranty schemes, and traceability will be important parts of the development.

OmBrukt AS is the industry's approval scheme for reused electronic products. The products are collected from the waste stream, checked, tested, cleaned, and repaired with original parts before being sold with a two-year replacement guarantee. The scheme aims to ensure safe reuse and reduce electronic waste.

– We want more participants in the industry's own system regarding the sale of reused products and our insurance product Repair Guarantee, says Haugen.