Put Your Core To Work

Return used, end-of-life parts and keep your equipment (and budget) in good shape.

Turn End-of-Life Core Into Savings With Cat^® Reman

Save money on parts by participating in the Cat^® Reman core return process. When you return an end-of-life part (or "core") to your Cat dealer, you can get a core deposit refund¹ — giving you like-new performance for a fraction of the price of new.² Find out how it all works.

Estimated read time: 4 minutes

“Core return — It’s what helps customers get the remanufactured parts they need for a fraction of the price of new.”

— Allen Spencer, Core Services Supervisor, Cat Reman

The Benefits of Core Return: At A Glance

Core return allows Caterpillar to:

Offer Cat Reman parts for 45-85% of the price of new
Deliver parts as drop-in ready solutions
Continue to remanufacture parts in a process that emits fewer greenhouse gases and uses less process energy when compared to the manufacture of new parts

Now, let’s explore how it works...

First Things First: What Is Core Return?

Think of core return as an exchange. Do you have an end-of-life engine block, used cylinder or old pump? Hand over your acceptable core to your Cat dealer and get a core deposit refund.¹ Your used core then gets sent to a Cat Reman facility, where it’s cleaned, inspected, salvaged and remanufactured to provide like-new performance.

Core return also helps make sure you have access to affordable, like-new remanufactured parts in the future. That’s because cores like yours are the backbone of our remanufacturing process. Without them, we wouldn’t have the material required to remanufacture products in the first place.

“Core return can help save old parts from going to landfills, conserves energy during manufacturing and keeps our supply chain going strong,” says Allen Spencer, core services supervisor for Cat Reman. “And it’s what helps customers get the remanufactured parts they need for a fraction of the price of new.”

“In today's competitive world, price is the big thing. But we've found the advantage with Cat Reman is: The warranty³ is the same, the cost is less and it performs like new.”

— Dale Nordman, Parts Manager, Butler Machinery

How Much Money Will I Get For My Core?

Your core deposit refund — the amount you can save — depends on the condition of your used part. When you bring an end-of-life core to your Cat dealer, the on-site experts perform an on-the-spot inspection using our core acceptance criteria. That determines whether you get a full or partial deposit toward your purchase of Cat Reman components. Typically, you pay just 45-85% the price of new with your core return.² That can translate into big savings.

Defining Core Acceptance Criteria

Every part has its own unique set of documented core acceptance criteria. Generally, your Cat dealer accepts cores¹ that:

Are fully assembled and complete
Are not visibly cracked, broken or welded
Display no non-operational damage, like mishandling, excessive rust, corrosion or pitting
Have an acceptable Cat part number
Have oils and fluids drained (but keep it dirty — abrasive cleaning can damage the core)

Remember, you must return a core first to get your core deposit refund. If you don’t, you’ll pay the same price as new.

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finishing touches of a core remanufacturing

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“As machines age and customers choose whether or not to replace components, the value tradeoff there is very important.”

— Bob Vetter, Store Manager, Butler Machinery

Core Return Could Lead to Savings on New Parts, Too

What if there’s no Cat Reman part available for the core you want to exchange? That may happen if a product has been available only for a couple of years. After all, we can’t remanufacture parts until they reach end of life and customers like you start returning cores.

Good news: You may still be able to access cost-effective parts with core return. For certain parts, Cat Reman offers a “new with core” option. These products are made with 100% new Cat components and are backed by a 12-month Caterpillar Limited Warranty.³ They can cost about 80-85% the price of new when you turn in an acceptable core — a great option if you want to save money on repairs earlier in your equipment’s lifecycle.

“The most important thing for keeping equipment up is having the right parts on hand, and Cat Reman is available.”

— Don Stewart, Equipment Manager, Eutaw Construction

Save Time and Money with Drop-In Ready Solutions

Need parts quickly to avoid unplanned downtime? That’s another great reason to return your used core. There are more than 8,000 Cat Reman engines, engine parts, components for hydraulics, drivetrain, undercarriage and other systems as well as complete kits available. In many cases, these drop-in-ready solutions can be delivered sooner than other repair options.

“It’s also a time-savings factor,” says Carl Nikle, a parts associate for Cat dealer Butler Machinery. “It’s all assembled. It’s ready to go.”

Plus, you can go back to work confident your remanufactured parts will perform like new alongside other parts, fully integrated into your Cat machine or engine. Each Cat Reman product is remanufactured to meet Caterpillar performance specifications and incorporate critical engineering updates. Then, it’s tested to match the same standards as genuine new Cat parts and covered by a same-as-new Caterpillar Limited Warranty.³

Cat Reman Core Return Is a Win-Win

Time saved and lower prices on parts are big benefits. But they’re not the only reason to exchange a core for a Cat Reman part.

By returning end-of-life parts, you support a circular economy — bringing new life to old iron rather than throwing it out. Overall, the remanufacturing process emits fewer greenhouse gases, uses less process energy and less new materials than manufacturing new products.³

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Core exchange also helps keep material costs low, which means Cat Reman parts stay affordable for you and other Cat equipment owners. It’s all part of a cycle that benefits everyone — whether you’re a small business owner or a big operation.

Want to learn more about the advantages? Check out the Cat Reman hub. Or reach out to your local Cat dealer for more details about core return and acceptance.

^{¹Core Acceptance Criteria (CAC) vary by component and are subject to change. Partial core refunds are available for some Cat Reman components. Contact your authorized Cat dealer for more information.

²Any Cat Reman cost savings statements are based on return of core; core conditions apply.

³Warranty can vary by model and application; limitations apply. For complete details about the applicable Caterpillar Limited Warranty, contact an authorized Cat dealer.}

There’s More to Cat Reman

Head to the Cat Reman homepage to learn more about the parts and processes behind remanufactured Cat products.

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Put Your Core To Work