Abstract

Hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs) are ubiquitous in electronic products and a large number enter the end-of-life stream prior to their true end of life. This webinar will review design and resource management models that can maximize the value of storage devices throughout their working lives. This can be accomplished in several ways — by reusing intact drives through multiple pathways, by manufacturing HDDs using extracted parts, by extracting parts for higher-value uses rather than as feedstock for materials recovery and, finally, for materials recovery alone. 

Guest speaker Ian Lovell (Reconext), will highlight his company's role in enabling a circular economy for storage infrastructure, focusing on HDD and SSD reuse, refurbishment, and value recovery. This work was germinated from the work of the iNEMI Value Recovery Project in 2018 on the recovery of HDDs and rare-earth magnets from those devices.

The webinar will cover:

• Reconext’s objectives of supporting a circular economy in a viable business model 
• Discuss processing of HDDs & SSDs to ensure secure data erasure, responsible recycling, and optimal reuse, reducing electronic waste and environmental impact
• Technology and innovation that enable recovery
• Environmental impact of implementing circular storage practices and rare earth magnet recovery 

Attendees should leave the webinar with evidence that circular recovery of electronics is a viable business model with both economic and environmental benefits.

About the Speaker

Ian Lovell, Vice President of Value Recovery Services (VRS) at Reconext, has over 30 years of experience in business, operations, account, and sales management. Since joining Reconext in 2007, Ian spearheaded the creation of the Value Recovery division, elevating it to a prominent global position. With a degree in Business Administration from Coventry University and extensive expertise in supply chain and asset recovery, Ian champions sustainable practices and strategic innovation. His leadership continues to drive Reconext’s mission of delivering efficient, eco-friendly reverse logistics and lifecycle management solutions worldwide.

Registration

This webinar is open to industry; advance registration is required. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Mark Schaffer ([email protected]).

Thursday, May 1, 2025 
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT (North America)
5:00-6:00 p.m. CEST (Europe)  

Please note: You will need to log into your web account (free to members and non-members) to register. If you do not have a current web account, please create one and set up your profile.