[ Recycling ]
[ Recycling ]
Scrap partnership to produce green steel
Producing steel from pre-sorted scrap requires less energy and generates less CO 2 than producing steel from iron ore and alloy metals . The quality of the scrap directly affects the quality and environmental impact of the resulting steel .
Text by Swiss Steel
Steel is one of the most frequently recycled materials in the world . Scrap is no longer considered waste , but a valuable and costly raw material . Transporting scrap across Europe is both environmentally damaging and inefficient . Steelworks with a strong local presence play a crucial role in establishing regional circular economies by minimizing transportation distances . In Germany , France , and Switzerland , the Swiss Steel Group ’ s steelworks source most of their scrap from within a 90 to 100-kilometer radius . Cooperation with scrap dealers is crucial . Previously , they only negotiated the price per ton , but today scrap dealers are system service providers who are compensated for quality and punctuality . A five-stage process maturity model has been implemented to improve scrap quality . Swiss Steel Group processes more than 2.2 million tons of scrap annually in its plants , making it one of the largest recycling companies in Europe . To produce high-quality steel , it is necessary to use new scrap material from metal processing with precisely known alloying additions . This enables precise control of the composition of the new steel , resulting in the production of high-grade steel for new quality products .
Scrap dealers as ‘ big data ’ service providers Scrap dealers have become more than just middlemen ; they are now important , fully integrated system partners in the steel industry . For instance , the Swiss Steel Group plant in Switzerland is collaborating with scrap suppliers and multiple universities on a project to create a digital twin of incoming scrap . This project is highly rated in terms of its significance and is being funded by the Swiss government . The project utilizes big data to enable steelworks to predict the type of scrap that will be delivered , resulting in more efficient and effective delivery , production , and steel quality . The digital twin of Swiss Steel Group ’ s scrap is groundbreaking and has potential applications beyond the steel industry . The system can also be used for other materials .