Circular business models have the potential to generate value for consumers, benefit producers and positively impact the environment. Despite its potential, designing a circular production network remains a significant challenge. Recognising multiple factors that influence the design of production networks, the proposed approach emphasises the importance of product, process and location attributes in the design and selection of a suitable production network. Five archetypes of reverse networks, specifically tailored to reverse logistics and circular production, are introduced. These network types are analysed and compared in a simulation. The research evaluates the performance of these network types in a case study from the construction machinery industry, taking into account factors such as production volumes, regional-specific transport costs and times, labor costs de-pendent on the country, varying return volumes across the European Union. The research shows how simulation can be used to develop and evaluate suitable network types for circular production.