Successes for sustainable construction at BAU

ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel and mining company, has joined forces with BP2, the manufacturer of complete solutions for residential construction, to supply low carbon emissions steel for BP2’s latest product, the SOLROOF integrated photovoltaic roof.

A longstanding partnership going strong

BP2’s integrated photovoltaic FIT VOLT panels (components of the SOLROOF system) will be manufactured solely using XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, which is produced using a minimum of 75% scrap steel and 100% renewable electricity.

The official launch of the cooperation took place at BAU, the world's leading trade fair for architecture, materials, and systems.

Speaking at an event to announce the partnership, BP2 CEO Mariusz Łach said: “We have chosen ArcelorMittal as our steel supplier for all photovoltaic panels, appreciating the high quality of the XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel and the company’s leadership in the decarbonisation of the steel industry”.

Speaking at BAU, Tomasz Plaskura, CMO East Europe, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, said: “It is an honour to be able to support our longstanding partner BP2 in their mission to reduce CO2 emissions in their supply chain through supplying XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel. This is a powerful example of the role of low carbon emissions steel in the creation of the renewable energy infrastructure that is needed at scale both here in Europe and worldwide”.

XCarb® recycled and renewably produced and SOLROOF

SOLROOF is an innovative photovoltaic system that was developed in response to the growing demand for clean energy. It is fully integrated into modular roofing and, thanks to proprietary solutions, allows for unique roof aesthetics and the use of different forms and shapes that are not possible when using a traditional photovoltaic installation.  

Aesthetics are combined with the innovative technology and light weight of the integrated SOLROOF photovoltaic panels. This offers an alternative solution to heavy photovoltaic panels with their visible mounting structure and cabling that are used in standard solutions. When designing the SOLROOF system, the manufacturer aimed to reduce the amount of plastic as much as possible in line with the needs of the environment.

The XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel and other materials used in the SOLROOF system not only have a lower environmental impact, but they are also fully recyclable, giving a second life to subsequent products. XCarb® recycled and renewably produced flat steel is manufactured at ArcelorMittal’s mill in Sestao, Spain and sent to other European sites for organic coating.

Cooperation with ArcelorMittal

The partnership with ArcelorMittal dates back to the early days of the BP2 group in the market. ArcelorMittal has supplied BP2 with a wide range of products, such as coated and galvanised sheets from top leading steel mills, including Eisenhüttenstadt, Germany; Gent, Belgium; Kraków and Świętochłowice, Poland. Large order tonnages require adequate communication and to ensure a seamless flow of information between BP2 and ArcelorMittal, especially in terms of document transfer, the latest ICT solutions are used, including EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) technology.

About BP2

BP2 has been a valued manufacturer of complete solutions for residential and industrial construction since 1995. It also offers services as part of its Steel Service Centre. BP2 is the creator of the SOLROOF brand and products – integrated photovoltaic roof, with five production plants in Poland (Kraków and Dąbrowa Górnicza), Slovakia (Košice), and Romania (Cluj Napoca and Timișoara).

BP2 is noted for a solid bond with customers, which is based on respect and trust. In the company, every element of a great machine must fit together perfectly. The company is built on four pillars that are as strong as steel, guarantee stability, and enable continuous development. These basic assumptions guarantee high efficiency and quality, with the resulting sense of solidarity and confidence in cooperation.

BP2 manufactures modular and compact sheet metal roofing tiles and corresponding products in the form of cut-to-size sheets. It also offers comprehensive solutions for industrial construction, such as structural trapezoidal sheets and corrugated SINUS sheets, wall cladding, and facade coffers.  BP2’s Steel Service Centre division was created for customers looking for materials with specific properties and degrees of processing. The company ensures constant availability and a wide selection of steel grades, thicknesses, and coatings recommended by BP2.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
©ArcelorMittal
©BP2

The VELUX Group has kickstarted cooperation with ArcelorMittal, the world's leading steel and mining company, as part of its efforts to halve value chain emissions by 2030. The companies will now work together to lower the carbon footprint of the steels used in VELUX roof windows, aiming to reduce embedded CO2 by up to 70% (depending on the type of steel product used) compared with conventionally produced steel.

Looking forward to the positive impact

The quality of steel is particularly crucial for ensuring optimal performance of the hinges used to operate VELUX roof windows and the brackets used to install them. The VELUX Group is working towards halving scope 3 emissions by 2030 and working with suppliers of materials for its products is essential to achieve this.

“This spring we are ordering the first delivery of low-carbon emissions steel from ArcelorMittal,” says Jesús Villalba, Senior Director, Direct Procurement at VELUX Group. “We are very excited about the journey that ArcelorMittal has started to move from emissions-intensive energy for steel production towards lower carbon steelmaking. Cooperations like these will enable decarbonisation of our products and we look forward to seeing the positive impact on our product and company carbon emissions.”

XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel

ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced flat steel is produced using a minimum of 75% scrap steel and 100% renewable electricity. It will now be tested in larger volumes in a VELUX factory in Gniezno, Poland to see how it performs in hinges and brackets. In parallel, VELUX and ArcelorMittal will work together to lower the carbon footprint of steel used in some other components for roof windows.  

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of many months’ work with our colleagues at VELUX Group, as well as in our testing laboratories and production lines in Europe”, said Laurent Plasman, CMO Industry, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. “Thanks to the interest and support of our customers, we are able to manufacture XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel for a growing number of applications, pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible when we launched XCarb® two years ago. I would like to thank VELUX Group for its commitment to this project so far; while we are at the start of this journey, I look forward to seeing the results of this long-term cooperation to reduce the environmental impact of steel used in VELUX roof windows."

The collaboration between the two companies was announced at BAU – the world's leading trade fair for architecture, materials, and systems, in Munich on 19 April 2023.

About the VELUX Group

For more than 80 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Their product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products, and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. These products help to ensure a healthy and sustainable indoor climate for work and learning and for play and pleasure. The Group works globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 38 countries and around 11 000 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by non-profit, charitable foundations (THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS) and family. In 2022, the VELUX Group had a total revenue of EUR 2.99 billion, VKR Holding had a total revenue of EUR 4.29 billion, and THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS donated EUR 181 million in charitable grants.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
© VELUX Group and ArcelorMittal