Aluminium is one of the most carbon-intensive materials in vehicle production. Aluminium wheels, being a highly material-intensive component, significantly contribute to a vehicle's overall emissions during the production stage. Refurbishing damaged wheels instead of replacing them with new ones reduces the need for virgin materials, thus lowering the CO2 emissions associated with new production – which in turn reduces the environmental impact. Additionally, wheel refurbishment is often more cost-effective than buying new wheels. Until now, wheel refurbishment has only been done on a small scale in the Nordics. Now, through its subsidiary Hedin Wheel Tech, Hedin Mobility Group is establishing the first large-scale aluminium wheel refurbishment facility in Sweden and the Nordic region, located in Bålsta, north of Stockholm.

“There are many reasons why wheel refurbishment is important. As demand for circular solutions within the automotive industry grows, this is an opportunity we want to capture while at the same time contributing to the circular transition. Our production facility has the capacity to refurbish up to 150 wheels per shift. On December 2, we’re launching the service in Sweden, with plans to soon meet the total Nordic demand for this type of service. By offering a faster, more cost-effective, and solution with higher quality than what’s currently available, we aim to increase accessibility and awareness around circularity. We are confident this will drive demand for wheel refurbishment as a profitable alternative to replacement, and we expect to see a growing market. In short, we’re offering the industry a smart choice, both economically and environmentally,” says Peter Jürgensen, Aftersales Director at Hedin Mobility Group.

E-commerce flow makes it quick and easy
The wheel refurbishment service will be available nationwide through a logistics partnership with PostNord. The solution is built around an e-commerce flow, where customers can easily book pickup online, sometimes as quickly as the same day, but at the latest by the next day. Once the refurbishment is complete, the wheels are delivered back via PostNord. The service will operate similarly in Norway, Finland, and Denmark when launched there, expected in early 2025.

“We’re targeting both Hedin Mobility Group’s retail operations within Hedin Automotive and other car retailers on the market, as well as leasing and rental car companies and tire workshops. We also hope that insurance companies, which currently often choose to replace wheels instead of refurbishing them, will now see wheel refurbishment as their first option,” says Martin Edlund, Business Manager of Hedin Wheel Tech and responsible for the wheel refurbishment operations in Bålsta.

Initially, the initiative will employ six staff members. Hedin Mobility Group already offers large-scale aluminium wheel refurbishment via its UK subsidiary RRT.