FennoSteel trials ArcelorMittal's XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced low carbon-emissions steel

5 November 2024

FennoSteel and ArcelorMittal have celebrated 10 years of partnering on Magnelis^® - based steel products for the European automotive, traffic safety and construction markets, and are now trialling ArcelorMittal’s XCarb^®  recycled and renewably produced low carbon-emissions steel to reduce carbon impacts for FennoSteel customers.

FennoSteel Oy, based in Parkano, Finland, is one of the leading manufacturers in Europe of specialty tubes for exhaust systems, pipe products and thin wall tubes for a range of applications. Founded in 1985 they have been making exhausts and steel tubes for almost 40 years.

The Magnelis^® zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy coating provides FennoSteel products with strong corrosion resistance for harsh environments - at least three times better than conventional galvanised steel. It also provides unique edge protection through its self-healing properties. These qualities are ideal for the high humidity, temperature extremes and maritime, saline and ammonia environments to which FennoSteel products are typically exposed.

Fennosteel is one of the leading manufacturers in Europe of specialty tubes for exhaust systems, pipe products and thin wall tubes. © Fennosteel

“Our interaction with ArcelorMittal is very smooth and their team are always reachable. Nowadays delivery times play a key role in the supply chain and ArcelorMittal has managed this well,” says Jami Kivelä, Sales Manager – Steel tubes, FennoSteel Oy. “Magnelis^® as a product provides us with competitive advantages in the market, because of its unique properties. The fact that you can also get Magnelis^® coated products with a lower carbon footprint is also really important in the current environment where there is a natural focus on climate impacts. With XCarb^® we have a solution to offer to our customers in their journey towards carbon neutral products!”

The Magnelis^® S350 GD structural steel grades are typically used for construction, road and railway infrastructure, greenhouse and stall structures in agriculture and farming, and solar energy installations.

FennoSteel is committed to reducing its environmental impacts and is seeking to be carbon-neutral on its own Scope 1 and Scope 2 operations by 2027. It has started detailed assessment of its Scope 3 and supply chain emissions, and is now entering trials to move some production over to ArcelorMittal's XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced Magnelis^® steel, reducing the carbon footprint of the steel used by 65% compared with the conventional blast furnace produced route. FennoSteel is conscious that key customers are increasingly looking for lower carbon solutions not least in construction, hall building and roof safety products.

Fennosteel has partnered with one of the leading hall builders in Scandinavia, Best Hall Oy, for over 10 years.

“Best Hall constructs fabric-covered and steel-framed halls around the world, and the atmospheric conditions inside and outside the halls may vary a lot – that’s why materials have to be suitable for the conditions and durable. Magnelis^® is a great coating for the steel, it guarantees that no matter what environment we are facing, Magnelis^® will cope with it. Now we have the opportunity to have it with a reduced carbon footprint through the XCarb^® offering, which is a great addition to our material portfolio, says Purchasing Manager, Juha Kärjä.