ISMR July/August 2024 | Page 39

FOCUS ON TUBEFORMING

The company successfully established product innovations such as BENTELER HYRESIST ® hydrogen line pipes in 2023 . In 2023 , the Steel / Tube Division also made several improvements to its own product portfolio . These included , for example , expanding its portfolio at the Shreveport site ( USA ). New to the range were dimensions of up to six inches , enabling BENTELER to offer more tailored choices to its customers .
An eye on sustainability
As a company with close to 150 years of tradition , long-term thinking is part of BENTELER ’ s DNA .
“ Our goal is to create a more sustainable future for all of us — our employees , our customers , society . In 2023 , we once again demonstrated our commitment to sustainability . Among other things , we significantly reduced our energy consumption . We also concluded declarations of intent for the purchase of CO₂-reduced raw material . Our Steel / Tube Division was awarded the gold medal by EcoVadis , the world ’ s largest provider of sustainability ratings . The success of our activities is also reflected in the CDP ( Carbon Disclosure Project ) rating . We have been participating with the Automotive Division since 2012 and have improved continuously since then . In 2023 , we achieved an ‘ A ’ rating in the Climate Change category for the first time ,” said BENTELER in its 2023 Annual Report .
Its customers are increasingly concerned about the carbon footprint of materials to achieve their own sustainability goals . As part of the Product Carbon Footprint calculations ( PCFs ), the phases from material procurement to when a product leaves the BENTELER premises are analysed (“ From Cradle to Gate ”).
Along with its good economic performance in 2023 , the group set further priorities in sustainability . Direct and indirect emissions ( Scope 1 and Scope 2 ) were once again significantly reduced at group level , down around ten per cent on the previous year . Emissions in the supply chain ( Scope 3 ) also fell year-on-year . The same applies to the amount of waste .
At the same time , BENTELER expanded its sustainable product portfolio , maintaining its pioneering role in the field of sustainable steel and tube solutions . With the CliMore ® range , introduced in 2023 , the company has grouped CO₂-reduced steels and steel tubes into three sustainability categories . This creates transparency and helps customers to decarbonise their own supply chains .
“ As a global company in an energy-intensive industry , we are aware of our responsibility to the environment and future generations ,”
Around 900 guests took part in the celebrations at BENTELER Steel / Tube ’ s electric steel mill in Lingen .
Sustainability is an important part of our corporate strategy . We are consistently reducing CO 2 emissions and focus on the circular economy
BENTELER Steel / Tube ’ s electric steel mill in Lingen .
Thomas Michels , Chief Operating Officer , BENTELER Steel / Tube .
commented Dr . Tobias Braun , CFO of the BENTELER Group and Managing Director and CFO of the Steel / Tube Division .
“ Sustainability is an important part of our corporate strategy . We are consistently reducing CO₂ emissions and focus on the circular economy . Steel production in our electric steel mill in Lingen produces around 75 % less CO₂ than steel production via the conventional blast furnace route , an important trump card in the implementation of our sustainability strategy . By 2045 , we aim to become CO₂-neutral in the Steel / Tube Division . That goes for the supply chain as well as production and our products . In the latter area , especially , we have established new benchmarks for more sustainable steels and steel tube products with the introduction of our new CliMore ® product range ,” he continued .
Sustainability is also a factor in research and pre-development projects , for example , through lightweight construction and resource conservation . An innovation process exists in the Automotive Division for this that includes the phases of idea management , concept , laboratory and series maturity .
Electric steel mill celebrates anniversary
BENTELER Steel / Tube ’ s electric steel mill in Lingen celebrated its 50th anniversary in April 2024 . Since its commissioning on 1 April 1974 , the plant has produced high-quality steel from scrap steel . According to the company , by using an electric arc furnace and recycling scrap , the site currently produces around 75 per cent less CO₂ during steel production than steel production using the traditional blast furnace method . The use of renewable energies can further reduce emissions .
Thomas Michels , Chief Operating Officer of BENTELER Steel / Tube , explained : “ Our electric steel mill in Lingen is a symbol of our pioneering spirit at BENTELER . Fifty years ago , we were already relying on our own steel production for our seamless tubes . Today , this investment has become the key to our sustainable production of steel , which we are continuously developing . The key drivers for this are approximately 280 employees at the site , who develop and implement new ideas with great dedication and commitment .
“ With continuous modifications to the processes , we have increased the annual production capacity from around 75,000 tons in 1974 to around 650,000 tons today ,” added Thomas Michels . “ To produce the electric
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