XCarb® towards net zero steel

Swegon Group and ArcelorMittal are building on their partnership in reducing carbon emissions for Swegon’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) products. HVAC is a fast-growing part of the building and construction market, driven by demand for energy-efficient buildings, increased urbanisation, and a growing focus on the need for healthy indoor environments. 

Swegon Group AB is an international market leader in indoor environment solutions, offering air handling, ventilation, heating, cooling, and climate optimisation systems from 23 production plants in Europe, North America, and India. 

Core to Swegon’s business ethos is its long-term commitment to sustainability, supporting the transition to more sustainable buildings through energy efficiency, circularity, and healthy indoor environments. It has brought together its initiatives to reduce embodied carbon under a concept called RE:3 based on principles of circularity – RE:duce, RE:use, and RE:vitalise. The Group was among the first in the industry to publish EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) for its products and has a significant quantity of EPDs in its product portfolio.

A long-lasting partnership

Swegon and ArcelorMittal have been partners for over 20 years. In 2023, Swegon received its first Magnelis® delivery produced from XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel for testing and evaluation. They produced a concept air handling unit and sound attenuator which achieved a 34% lower carbon footprint compared to the traditional version.  

As result, in 2024 Swegon moved into serial production with XCarb® Magnelis® steel for air handling units produced in Kvänum, Sweden. The Group has been rolling out XCarb® steel across its wider product range including roof hoods, wall hoods, louvres, filter cabinets, attenuators, dampers, and chilled beams. ArcelorMittal’s Global R&D team worked closely with Swegon on the initial integration of the new steel material into their manual and automatic processing machines. XCarb® has already been implemented in three additional Swegon sites, namely Arvika, Borås, and Tomelilla. A third phase of the roll-out has been incorporating the XCarb® steel into GOLD/SILVER air handling units with prepainted external panels in Granite® HDX. 

“Swegon’s commitment to low‑carbon materials is central to reducing the embodied carbon footprint of our products and strengthening our contribution to a more circular economy. As one of the key pillars of our RE:3 initiative tackling embodied carbon, low-carbon steel like XCarb® recycled and renewably produced is fundamental to deliver on our science‑based targets and contribute to a more sustainable steel and HVAC industry,” comments Mirko Sauvan, Group Sustainability Director, Swegon Group. 

Premium steel

Magnelis® is a premium, highly durable metallic coated steel produced by ArcelorMittal, offering superior corrosion resistance to conventional galvanised steel for harsh environments, and is ideal for a range of HVAC systems. XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel is a low-carbon-emissions steel made in an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) with minimum 75% scrap content and produced using 100% renewable electricity. This production process reduces CO₂ emissions significantly compared with the traditional steelmaking route in a blast furnace. XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Magnelis® has an approximately 70% lower CO₂ footprint compared with Magnelis® produced via the conventional blast furnace route. 

Significant reductions

Swegon has achieved significant reductions in carbon emissions through its transition to XCarb® steel. Its CLA attenuator has validated a 25% reduction compared to the previous version using non-recycled steel, its PACIFIC chilled beam a 33% reduction, and its GOLD/SILVER air handling units a 30% reduction.

"We are very pleased with the cooperation between Swegon and ArcelorMittal that has enabled us to continue to lower our global warming potential impact for several product groups. We all have to contribute and reduce our climate footprint, and this transition is enabling us to reduce not only our own, but also our customers’ footprint,” says Robert Siverby, Procurement Director, Configurable AHU at Swegon. 

As the construction and real estate sectors continue to adapt to increasing sustainability requirements, HVAC solutions play an important role in both operational efficiency and material impact. Swegon is contributing to a more resource-efficient and circular construction industry with the launch, in early 2026, of the next-generation GOLD/SILVER air handling units. Designed to meet rising HVAC and building-sector demands, over 70% of the total steel weight is now comprised of recycled steel and almost 60% of the total material weight is recycled material. As a result, the new unit - significantly reduces its embodied carbon while maintaining the performance and reliability expected of a GOLD unit.

“We are delighted to have been partnering with Swegon over the last few years on developing significantly lower-carbon products in the HVAC market. We have a like-minded approach to sustainability, and their requirements for products such as air handling units, hoods, and attenuators play to the strengths of both our Magnelis® and XCarb® offerings,” adds Jonas Stenbeck, Account Manager, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.

Text:
© ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
© Constructalia

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© ArcelorMittal Europe

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Water sustains life. Managing, recycling, and storing it are critical challenges. Tubao, a long-standing partner of ArcelorMittal, has made it its mission to tackle them.

Now, Tubao is taking an extra decisive step towards more sustainable infrastructure by integrating hot dip galvanised XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel into its galvanised metallic tubes.

Driving innovation in sustainable infrastructure

Based in Saint‑Saëns, Normandy, Tubao has built a strong reputation in France as a trusted supplier of water storage solutions. Today, the company goes one step further. It combines its engineering expertise with low‑carbon steels to help shape the future of civil engineering.

Innovation is at the heart of Tubao’s strategy. The company continuously develops smarter, more efficient solutions for water management and is also actively pioneering ways to reduce the environmental footprint of hydraulic infrastructure.

By choosing ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® steel, Tubao ensures that the core material used in its galvanised pipes and storage systems has a significantly lower embedded carbon footprint. This gives customers a clear advantage in a market where sustainability criteria are increasingly decisive in public tenders and infrastructure projects.

“Thanks to XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, Tubao is now producing galvanised metallic tubes with embedded CO₂ reduced by 60% while maintaining structural integrity and corrosion performance,” explains Hadrien Le Flanchec, Head of Business Development at Tubao.

A tangible approach to decarbonisation

Tubao’s commitment goes beyond material selection. The company provides customers with transparent, measurable data to support low‑carbon decision making:

• Environmental impact documented through FDES/INIES verified data
• Demonstrated carbon savings of up to 60% versus standard metallic tubes and 70% compared to conventional concrete alternatives
• Full consideration of steel recyclability at end of life

This data-driven approach allows contractors, engineers, and public authorities to confidently choose more sustainable solutions, backed by clear evidence.

A pioneering mindset

Tubao is not just following the market, it is actively helping to lead the transformation. By combining technical performance, innovation, and environmental responsibility, the company positions itself as a pioneer in the decarbonisation of hydraulic infrastructure.

Its long-term partnership with ArcelorMittal plays a key role in this journey, enabling access to innovative steel solutions like XCarb® and supporting the transition to lower‑carbon construction.

“We believe the infrastructure sector has a real responsibility to decarbonise. By partnering with ArcelorMittal and integrating XCarb® into our product offering, we give our clients a tangible, documented path to lower‑carbon construction, without compromising on technical performance,” concludes Hadrien Le Flanchec.

About Tubao

Tubao is a French manufacturer based in Saint-Saëns, Normandy, specialising in galvanised steel infrastructure for civil engineering, public works, and industrial sites.

Tubao's spiral corrugated steel pipes and underground storage systems are designed for four core applications:

• Stormwater retention & regulation — buried basins that buffer peak rainfall events protecting roads, urban areas, and industrial facilities from flooding while controlling discharge into natural waterways.
• Highway and road drainage — corrugated steel culverts and pipes used in major infrastructure projects to channel runoff safely under roadways and embankments.
• Fire water reserves — large-volume buried tanks providing certified water reserves for industrial and ICPE-classified sites, ensuring fire-fighting capacity without surface footprint.
• Industrial process and rainwater harvesting — closed-loop water storage solutions for industrial sites looking to reduce mains water consumption and meet environmental targets.

From local municipal works to major national infrastructure projects (motorways, ICPE-classified industrial sites, urban developments), Tubao combines proven engineering with a clear environmental commitment.

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© ArcerlorMittal Europe Communications
© Constructalia

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© Tubao

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Coated steel from the XCarb® range, which is made from recycled materials and produced using renewable energy, played a significant role in the construction of the MDC² Park Kraków South complex. This project demonstrates how modern materials can support the development of sustainable logistics.

MDC²: sustainable warehouse property developers

MDC² specialises in the development of modern warehouse and industrial facilities. The company carries out development projects, managing the construction process and letting out space. MDC² consistently delivers eco-friendly buildings across Poland. Their logistics centres are a key element in the commercial property sector's transition towards sustainable development.

One such facility is MDC² Park Kraków South, a transhipment terminal for a leading courier service provider. Located in Skawina, Poland, the 11 000 m² development plays a significant role in the regional logistics system.

Low-carbon-emission steel solutions in practice

For this project, ArcelorMittal Building Solutions supplied Hacierco® roof decking with an underside made from Estetic® organic coated steel from the low-carbon-emissions XCarb® range.

XCarb® products are manufactured in electric arc furnaces using renewable energy and a high proportion of recycled steel. This approach significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions throughout the entire production process, and the solutions offered support partners in delivering environmentally responsible projects.

BREEAM certification at the highest level

The use of sustainable material solutions had a direct impact on the facility achieving the prestigious Outstanding rating in the BREEAM New Construction certification scheme. This is the highest rating in the BREEAM system and is awarded to buildings that meet the most rigorous criteria for sustainable construction.

Only projects scoring over 85% belong to this select group of the highest-rated buildings. MDC² Park Kraków South's certification confirms its technological advancement, high energy efficiency, and tangible contribution to environmental protection.

Measurable environmental benefits thanks to the use of XCarb® steel

The use of Hacierco® structural roofing sheets with an Estetic® coating made from XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel has enabled:

• a 68% reduction in CO₂e emissions during the production stage compared with traditional steel
• a reduction in the embedded carbon footprint of over 200 000 kg CO₂e across the entire project

The steel sheets were profiled locally by ArcelorMittal Building Solutions. The main contractor for the project was BREMER.

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©Constructalia
©MDC²

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©Bremer/MDC²
©ArcelorMittal

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©ArcelorMittal Building Solutions

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XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel - Park Krakow South Complex (Project)