Carbon-reduced steel pushes boundaries of credibility
The promotion of carbon-reduced steel often pushes the boundaries of credibility, said speakers at the Future Steel Forum in Stockholm last month.
“At the moment, the brand development [of so-called green steel] is outpacing the technological development,” Stanislav Zinchenko, chief executive of Ukrainian consultancy GMK Center, said at the event attended by Kallanish. “There is more declaration than existing progress.” This signals intent for the future, but does not necessarily define the present reality, he added.
In his presentation, Zinchenko also questioned the market maturity of green steels. He cited the wide range of premiums for such steels, between €150/tonne and €250/t ($162-$270), which he finds is an indication the market is too small yet to see realistic pricing emerge. “The price is not market-based, and depends on many factors, with no real connection in-between them,” he noted.
The conference included a dedicated panel entitled “How do we define green steel?” Caroline Ashley, director of critical non-profit organisation SteelWatch, proposed that anything under 400kg of CO2 per tonne of steel produced could be called “green”. But she also expressed strong scepticism over the label of “hydrogen-ready” that is applied to many facilities.
In her presentation, Ashley warned the audience that “you might not agree with everything I say”. For example, ArcelorMittal claims to be a leader, but she finds the company’s efforts are not sufficient. “We need leaders that are bold and have a vision,” she argued, and “there is a lot of hype, I find.”
Christian Koehl Germany
Cogne expands German distribution network
Cogne Edelstahl says it is expanding its distribution network in Germany, along defined chapters – North, West, South – plus a new area, East, Kallanish learns from the speciality steelmaker’s German unit.
Cogne Edelstahl operates sites in Neuss in western Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rudersberg in the south (Baden-Württemberg) and Stuhr in the northern city state of Bremen. They supply customers with products made in Italy, Taiwan and Sweden.
In addition, the company is establishing in July representatives in Leipzig to serve the East chapter. It total, Cogne Edelstahl will have 37 representatives in the country.
”The nationwide expansion will facilitate the availability of bar and bright bar at locations close to customers, including processing services, cutting, and certification,” says managing director Bernd Grotenburg. He notes the company has perceived rising demand from the east in recent years, and that it plans to establish a new warehouse there.
Christian Koehl Germany
Van Leeuwen launches brand for ‘CO2-reduced’ tubes
Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group has launched its own brand for “CO2-reduced” steel tube products, called Van Leeuwen Impact.
This umbrella brand represents a new line of CO2-reduced steel tubes manufactured by a range of renowned European tubemakers, Kallanish hears from the Dutch distributor.
With the introduction of its Impact brand, the company aims to support the sustainability ambitions of its partners and customers in the tube industry. According to Van Leeuwen, customers are increasingly seeking sustainable solutions.
Van Leeuwen says its Impact products are sourced from manufacturers that share its dedication to sustainability. “Working closely together with our partners in the supply chain, we are currently stocking and distributing an entire range of CO2-reduced steel pipes and tubes,” says chief executive Joop Sassen.
The company’s announcement does not specify the makers of the CO2-reduced tubes of its branded product line, nor does it provide information on the production routes.
Christian Koehl Germany