Larger XCarb^® angles, wider applications

6 October 2026

Expanding the availability of low carbon-emissions steel solutions requires more than innovation alone: it takes close collaboration across departments, from steelmaking and rolling to quality and research and development (R&D). Thanks to a shared commitment and years of development work, ArcelorMittal Long Products Luxembourg in Rodange has successfully extended its XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced angle range up to L250 in grade S460, opening the door to even larger dimensions in the future.

For the past few years, equal legs angles (known as "L" sections because of their shape) have been available in XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel in sizes up to L150 (meaning with legs measuring 150 mm), giving them one of the lowest CO₂e footprints available on the market:  333 kg of CO₂e per tonne of finished product.[1]

XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced to reduce the CO₂e footprint of projects

Combining the use of S460 high strength steels and XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel allows considerable carbon-emissions savings, up to 49% reduction compared to industry average value, as shown in the chart below for a lattice tower use case.

Bigger angles, wider applications – lattice towers in focus

Making L250 angles available in the high-strength S460 grade, in XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced, also enables innovation within their main applications, with lattice towers being a prime example.

Over the next decade, electricity transmission capacities are expected to double, driving a significant increase in conductor sizes and the loads imposed on high-voltage transmission towers. As a result, modern steel lattice towers are likely to be substantially heavier than their predecessors, as they are designed to withstand greater mechanical loads and meet more stringent requirements.

Unprecedented demands are being placed on both new and existing infrastructure. Many transmission towers in service were constructed using S355 structural steel and are now approaching their intended load capacities, raising concerns about their long-term structural performance and reliability.

S460 high-strength steel provides an efficient and sustainable solution. By upgrading from S355 to S460, transmission towers can achieve a 20% to 30% increase[2] in structural capacity while retaining the same, proven designs without requiring any complex fabrication processes. This enables utilities and network operators to accommodate higher transmission requirements without fundamentally redesigning established tower configurations.

A long lasting team work

The first steps on the road to XCarb^® L250 in S460 were led by the quality department and Mill A production teams. They started the development work two years ago to adapt to the new bloom, featuring dimensions of 400 x 280mm². Thanks to SteelUp!, and their joint efforts, the production of S355J2 over the full range of angles (up to L300x35) in XCarb^® was validated. Building on this momentum, the development of the full range of L250 angles in grade S460 and in XCarb^® was achieved the following year – in 2026.

This achievement highlighted the strong commitment of the Mill A production team, R&D and the quality department, to adapting the production process, from steelmaking to rolling, to achieve the required properties and expand ArcelorMittal Luxembourg’s product porfolio. Their expertise brought this innovation to the market, while maintaining the highest quality standards that customers expect from ArcelorMittal. Together, they have already started working toward their next target - the development of the XCarb^® L300 angle range in S460.

Christophe Seivert, head of Mill A finishing Rodange said: "We have witnessed a remarkable evolution since the first spot sales of XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced angles. Today, XCarb^® is fully integrated into our daily operations, with XCarb^® angles regularly produced in our mill and prepared for delivery to customers. As the demand for high-strength, low carbon-emissions steel continues to grow, ArcelorMittal Luxembourg is proud to support this transition. Making the most of our extensive expertise, we now offer the complete L250 angle range in XCarb^®, available up to S460 grade, combining sustainability with outstanding structural performance.”

 

 

[1] This figure is published in an  environmental product declaration (EPD) by the German EPD programme operator IBU. ArcelorMittal’s XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced angles are produced from 100% scrap in an electric arc furnace, using only renewably produced electricity from wind and solar sources.

[2] Angelhy research project: Innovative developments and solutions for steel lattice towers