Partnership in the steel supply chain: the way to go

Corné Rottier, Managing Director of KS Service Center, sees the cooperation with ArcelorMittal Europe and Van der Valk as the beginning of a trend: “In order to maximise the impact of a more sustainable approach, an integrated supply chain cooperation is the way to go. Together we can drastically reduce CO₂ emissions, and I am pleased that we can start to show this with this collaboration through Van der Valk’s solar panel mounting systems.”

Van der Valk Solar Systems chose Magnelis® coated steel sourced with accompanying XCarb® green steel certificates to create their solar panel mounting systems with a minimal CO₂ footprint. “We want to be leaders in sustainability, which is why we have chosen sustainably produced Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal Europe,” says Paul van der Meer, KAM coordinator at Van der Valk Solar Systems. “Working with a partner such as KS Service Center emphasises our commitment to take the next steps in our sustainability journey.”

“Our XCarb® green steel certificates represent significant CO₂ reductions in steel production processes and are an important part of our journey to reducing our CO₂ emissions by 35% by 2030 in Europe, and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050”, says Frederik Leus, XCarb® Business Development ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, CMO Industry. “The CO₂ reduction in these certificates amounts to 2.11 t CO₂ /t steel and originates from innovative CO2 emissions reduction projects in our production processes. The CO₂ savings are mass balanced on a central account and independently verified.”

About Van der Valk Solar Systems

Since 2009, Van der Valk Solar Systems has been one of the fastest growing companies in the solar industry. It focusses entirely on the development and production of solar mounting systems for pitched roofs, flat roofs, and open fields. Van der Valk Solar Systems has an office and warehouse in the UK, offices in Sweden and Spain, and is currently active in 13 countries.

The ambition to reduce carbon emissions for PV mounting structures

The sustainable cooperation in the value chain and the choice of sustainably produced steel is a first in the Dutch PV market. The tripartite agreement was signed in Moerdijk, the Netherlands.

Through the use of Magnelis®, the XCarb® green steel certificates, and a sustainable production chain, KS Service Center and Van der Valk Solar Systems are aiming to achieve an 82.2% reduction in carbon emissions for PV mounting structures.

Magnelis® and PV installations: the perfect duo

Since it was first introduced more than a decade ago, Magnelis® has become a standard material for solar mounting structures and other components used in PV installations. Magnelis® can offer solar farm operators a productive lifetime of 25 years or more depending on the thickness of the coating. As well as being easy to process, Magnelis® offers low maintenance and self-healing on cut edges.

In the decade since Magnelis® was first introduced, there have been significant improvements to the range. These include heavier coatings which are extending the geographic range of solar projects to more harsh environments while offering longer lifetimes. The heavier coatings also allow Magnelis® to be used for foundation poles, which have to be strong in order to withstand the installation process in the ground, replacing post-galvanised material.

KS Service Center and its sustainability mission

With their shared commitment to sustainability, KS Service Center and KS Systems are striving to drive sustainability in the steel processing industry. One way they do this is by supplying steel accompanied with XCarb® green steel certificates. In 2024, KS Service Center and KS Systems will provide sustainably produced steel, giving customers a wider range of sustainable steel solutions to choose from.

About KS Service Center

KS Service Center is a leading supplier of strip steel and sheet metal with extensive expertise in the steel industry and a special focus on durable steel. For its customers, it processes and supplies high-quality materials in a variety of thicknesses and grades. The company distinguishes itself as a reliable partner with a sustainable approach and flexible delivery. It is ISO 14001 certified, the international standard for an environmental management system. Its ambition is to become the greenest service center for steel in the Benelux. 

About KS Systems

In addition to KS Service Center, KS Systems also plays a crucial role in chain cooperation, designing and realising innovative, sustainable support structures for international market segments such as warehousing, solar, and construction. By working closely with KS Systems, KS Service Center can offer a completely sustainable solution to its customers, where high quality materials and innovative systems go hand in hand. 

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
ArcelorMittal