The NR knockoff represented a low-quality, unreliable copy of the NR-5 Series Repair Droid class 5 model from Kalibac Industries. This imitation was manufactured and sold by "Tredwall," a minor group of outlaw techs operating within the Corporate Sector. This event occurred in the year 2 BBY. The device functioned for approximately ten hours before experiencing a total systems failure due to fried circuitry. Kraemr issued a warning regarding Tredwall's NR knockoff to prospective NR-5 purchasers via Cynabar's Droid Datalog.
Cynabar's Fantastic Technology: Droids, a Star Wars Legends sourcebook for Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, initially introduced the NR knockoff. Drew Campbell and Eric S. Trautmann authored this supplement, which was published on April 1, 1997.