Industrial component obsolescence and e-waste compliance issues rise

Industrial components are facing accelerating rates of obsolescence. A report by PMMI (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies) indicates that 49% of equipment and component manufacturers have seen an increase in obsolescence cases over the last five years. The primary driver, cited by 80% of respondents, is the rapid development of new technologies. End users reported that digital incompatibility and component failures are also significant factors, with software and digital components being the most affected areas.

In the Czech Republic, regulatory challenges regarding end-of-life products persist. Data from the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) for 2025 shows that more than one-third of 2,927 inspections resulted in violations of laws concerning products with an end-of-life stage. The most frequent issue involved the failure to correctly state costs associated with the take-back and processing of electronic waste. These errors occurred most often at the final point of sale, particularly in smaller retail outlets, where mandatory information failed to reach the customer on purchase documents.