From XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced to screws for solar panels: how a sustainability chain works thanks to a dream team

It is obvious that ambitious climate targets can only be achieved by working together. The cooperation between ArcelorMittal, Finkernagel and EJOT is a good example and a premiere for a cooperation between manufacturer, processor and end-product producer to reduce environmental impact.

The dream teams of ArcelorMittal (headed by Uwe Braun), Finkernagel (with Timo Finkernagel) and EJOT (Markus Rathmann) standing together close to the XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced coils

Three companies cooperate for low-carbon emissions steel products

ArcelorMittal Hamburg produces XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel – which has a CO₂ footprint significantly lower than conventionally produced steel - which the wire-drawing company Finkernagel processes further; EJOT, in turn, produces screws from the drawn wire in cold forming, which are ultimately used for batteries in electric cars or for solar panel structures.

By using XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced, the CO₂ savings total 80 percent compared with conventionally produced steel, and the low-carbon emissions steel ultimately benefits the energy transition thanks to its use in solar modules and electric cars. At Finkernagel's headquarters in Altena, North Rhine-Westphalia, the three companies have made the cooperation public on 13 June.

Dr. Uwe Braun, CEO of ArcelorMittal Hamburg: "Thanks to this cooperation, we are creating a special value chain that contributes to the climate goals of the companies involved. Once again we see that low carbon-emissions steel is vital for building the infrastructure we need for the transition to carbon neutrality. After all, solar modules, efficient electric cars or wind turbines cannot be made without steel. We are already able to produce very low-carbon and, in a few years, climate-neutral steel. For us, it's about doing our homework and continuously working on such promising projects in cooperation with our customers.”

Timo Finkernagel, Managing Director of Finkernagel: "Through our trials, we know that the XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel can be processed excellently and has no quality disadvantages compared to conventional steel. The fact that the material properties are also identical in a direct comparison is particularly pleasing. We are proud to be able to offer XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced to our customers and are confident that it will be well received in the market."

Markus Rathmann, Chief Supply Chain Officer of the EJOT Group: "The entry into the processing of CO2-reduced steel marks an important step for the EJOT Group on the way to climate neutrality, especially since the largest part of the CO2 emissions is in our preliminary products (Scope 3). We will successively expand the use of CO2-reduced steel."

XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced aims to reduce the carbon footprint of their customers

Since 2021, ArcelorMittal has been bundling all efforts towards climate-neutral steel production with the umbrella brand XCarb^®; by investing in technologies and start-ups, by awarding certificates for CO₂ savings in steel production and especially by low-carbon manufacturing variants. The XCarb^® steel made from recycled and renewable material is produced in an electric arc furnace using 100% renewable electricity and up to 100% scrap depending on the steel grade. For these steel products, emissions can be as low as 333 kilograms of CO₂ equivalents per tonne of end product.

The XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced used by Finkernagel and Ejot respectively significantly reduces the Scope 3 emissions of both companies.

The EJOT Group aims to reduce its CO₂ emissions from the current level of approx. 190,000 tonnes per year to zero by 2035. I

In addition to a variety of its own measures to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, Finkernagel is primarily focusing on the use of a low-CO₂ steel input material. According to its decarbonisation strategy, ArcelorMittal aims to achieve net zero emissions worldwide by 2050.