Firm to open massive tech refurbishment facility in Kildare

A MASSIVE new technology refurbishment and remanufacturing facility is to open in Kildare next month., The Irish-owned technology company Green IT, which has already given more than half a million computers and ICT devices a second life, is preparing to officially the facility at Tougher's Industrial Estate, Naas, Co. Kildare, on Wednesday, 18th November 2026, as it sets its sights on becoming Ireland's national ICT hub for sustainable technology.

The new 22,000 sq ft premises will accommodate an extraordinary operation involving thousands upon thousands of laptops, desktop computers, monitors, interactive whiteboards, gaming equipment, and other electronic devices, all destined to be repaired, refurbished, remanufactured and returned to circulation rather than heading to landfill.

The sheer scale of the operation is difficult to appreciate until you step inside. Row upon row of computers, laptops, screens and electronic equipment stretch across the vast facility, while teams of specialist engineers and technicians work at dedicated stations, each carrying out different stages of the refurbishment process.

From dismantling and rebuilding computers to replacing damaged components, re-skinning keyboards, respraying casings and manufacturing replacement parts using 3D printing technology, the level of specialist work involved goes far beyond conventional computer repair.

Equipment arriving at the facility can undergo extensive technical assessment, data erasure, component replacement, cosmetic restoration and rigorous testing before being returned to the market.

Laptops and notebooks are rebuilt and restored, desktop computers are upgraded, monitors and interactive whiteboards are prepared for reuse, while gaming equipment, headphones and other ICT accessories can also be assessed and refurbished where technically and commercially viable.

The result is a remarkable transformation, with equipment that may have been considered obsolete or no longer required being restored to a high standard and given a completely new working life.

Green IT was established in 2013 and has already refurbished and returned more than 500,000 ICT devices to circulation.

The company is demonstrating the enormous commercial and environmental potential of the circular economy, operating on a scale that challenges the traditional approach of replacing technology with newly manufactured equipment.

The environmental benefits of this approach are substantial. Research and case studies published by Green IT and its remanufacturing partner, Circular Computing, indicate that choosing a remanufactured laptop instead of a newly manufactured equivalent can avoid approximately 316kg of carbon emissions, save 190,000 litres of water and preserve 1,200kg of natural resources.

When applied across large-scale remanufacturing operations, the potential environmental benefits are considerable.

However, Green IT's ambition extends far beyond reducing electronic waste. The company is also helping to address Ireland's digital divide by making high-quality refurbished technology available at prices that are more accessible to families, schools, businesses, charities and public-sector organisations.

With computers and laptops now essential for education, employment and everyday life, the cost of purchasing new equipment can place considerable financial pressure on households, particularly those with several children attending school or college.

By restoring and remanufacturing equipment to a high standard, Green IT is providing an affordable alternative to buying new, while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact associated with technology consumption.

The company is also playing an increasingly important role in public-sector procurement. In partnership with Circular Computing, Green IT secured a place on the Office of Government Procurement's Remanufactured Notebook Framework, an initiative with an estimated value of up to €30 million over four years.

The framework could see approximately 60,000 remanufactured laptops purchased by public-sector bodies, offering the potential for significant savings to the State while reducing demand for newly manufactured equipment. If fully utilised at the projected volume, estimates associated with the framework suggest potential savings of approximately 19 million kilograms of carbon emissions, 11 billion litres of water and 72 million kilograms of mined resources.

Martin Reddy, managing director of Green IT, said the opening of the new facility represents a significant milestone for the company and demonstrates the enormous potential of Ireland's refurbished technology sector.

“When you walk into our facility and see the sheer volume of technology being processed, it really is quite extraordinary. We have thousands of computers, laptops, monitors and other devices moving through the operation, with specialist engineers working on everything from intricate component repairs and rebuilding computers to restoring casings, keyboards and manufacturing replacement parts using 3D printing.

“We are not simply wiping down old computers and selling them on. This is a highly specialised operation involving skilled technicians, sophisticated processes and rigorous quality control. We can take equipment that has been written off or replaced, completely transform it and put it back into circulation, often with many more years of productive life ahead of it.

“We have already given more than half a million ICT devices a second life, and this new facility will allow us to build on that achievement and further develop our ambition to become the ICT Hub for Ireland. There is a huge opportunity here, both environmentally and commercially, and we believe Ireland can become a leader in sustainable technology.” Mr Reddy said the company's expansion also reflects the increasing demand for affordable technology and the growing recognition among businesses and Government departments that refurbished equipment can provide a practical alternative to purchasing new.

“A laptop is no longer a luxury. Children need them for school; students need them for college and people need them for work. 

"For families trying to purchase two or three laptops, the cost can be enormous, and we want to help make technology accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget. The growth of AI has also driven up the cost of hardware and RAM which is adding to price pressure.

“We are helping to close that digital divide while also giving businesses, schools and Government departments the opportunity to significantly reduce their ICT expenditure. When you consider the environmental savings as well, it makes complete sense.

“The circular economy is not some abstract concept or something we should be talking about achieving in ten years' time. It is happening right here in Kildare, on a massive scale, every single day.

“We are taking technology that still has enormous value, restoring it and putting it back to work. That is good for the environment, good for the economy and good for the people who need affordable access to technology.” 

 The expansion comes as Ireland and the wider European Union place increasing emphasis on reducing electronic waste and extending the lifespan of electrical and electronic equipment.

By combining large-scale refurbishment, specialist engineering, remanufacturing and distribution, Green IT is helping to create a more sustainable model for the country's ICT requirements.

The new facility at Tougher's Industrial Estate will officially open on Wednesday 18 November when invited guests, business representatives, public-sector stakeholders and members of the media will have an opportunity to tour the premises and witness the scale of the operation first-hand.

Visitors will be able to see thousands of ICT devices moving through the refurbishment process, meet the engineers and technicians responsible for restoring the equipment and observe specialist operations including component replacement, keyboard restoration, respraying and 3D printing.

The opening takes place just 24 hours before the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Circular Economy Conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday 19 November, providing a striking, real-life example of how Irish businesses can reduce waste, conserve resources and create economic value by keeping products in use for longer.

For further information visit www.greenit.ie.