Cigarières footbridge: A first for XCarb® recycled and renewably produced heavy plates in Switzerland

A commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility

In 2023, SOTTAS, a Swiss family‑owned company renowned for its expertise in steel structures and high‑tech metal cladding, won the public tender issued by the municipality of Yverdon‑les‑Bains on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. The tender required a demonstrably low‑carbon construction approach, leading SOTTAS to rely on ArcelorMittal’s advanced low‑carbon heavy plate technology in the form of XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel.

“We are proud to be involved in the construction of this emblematic structure,” says Antoine Gremaud, Head of the Steel Structure Department at SOTTAS. “This project demonstrates that low‑carbon steels are perfectly suited to steel engineering structures. It also illustrates our determination to combine innovation with environmental care, while meeting high technical requirements.”

Honouring local heritage by design

The resulting footbridge, named Passerelle des Cigarières, pays tribute to the town’s industrial history and to what is believed to be Switzerland’s first women’s strike, carried out in 1907 by Yverdon’s cigarette‑factory workers. Designed by architects Brauen Wälchli and engineers Perret‑Gentil, the 52‑metre‑long bridge features asymmetrical trapezoidal steel box girders resting on a single cantilevered pillar. An integrated staircase connects pedestrians to the Quai de l’Ancienne Douane. Its distinctive green finish references the iconic Hermès typewriters once produced locally by Paillard. The bridge now provides a convenient link between the train station and the Bel Air commercial district for both pedestrians and cyclists.

Engineering, fabrication, and installation

SOTTAS fabricated the structure at its Bulle facility in four welded sections, totalling 150 tonnes. The completed bridge was lifted into place in a single operation using a 750‑tonne crawler crane, a significant logistical and engineering achievement.

Although SOTTAS has collaborated with ArcelorMittal and its predecessor companies for more than 40 years, this was the first time they specifically requested a low‑carbon steel grade. ArcelorMittal’s Steligence® team worked closely with SOTTAS to define requirements and identified XCarb® recycled and renewably produced heavy plate as the only market option meeting both the technical specifications and the need for a certified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

XCarb®: high performance with a reduced carbon footprint

The bridge is made from S355‑grade XCarb® recycled and renewably produced heavy plate, a medium‑tensile steel with a low‑carbon composition. It offers excellent weldability and good resistance to low temperatures—ideal for structural applications exposed to the elements.

Crucially, the steel delivers a carbon footprint of just 914 kg CO₂e per tonne, compared with 2600 kg for conventional heavy plate. This reduction—achieved through electric arc furnace production powered by renewable electricity—results in a 65% lower carbon footprint. For the municipality of Yverdon‑les‑Bains, this made XCarb® the optimum material to satisfy its demanding low‑carbon procurement criteria.

Project information

• Yverdon-les-Bains
• Switzerland
• 2025
• Project owner:
  Ville d'Yverdon-les-Bains
• Architect:
  Brauen Wälchli Architectes 
• Steel fabricator:
  SOTTAS SA
• Engineering:
  Perret-Gentil SA
• Text:
  Constructalia
  ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
• Images:
  © ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products
  © Upperview Productions Sàrl & Ville d'Yverdon-les-Bains
  © Upperview Productions Sàrl