Not Waste, but Raw Material: Circularity in Practice

Major maintenance was carried out this year at the Aperam stainless steel plant in Chatelet, Belgium. At one facility, the entire 45-metric-ton (45,000-kilogram) drive shaft had to be replaced. Aperam chose to recycle it sustainably. The entire project was outsourced to the specialist firm Krommenhoek Metals.

We are committed to the circular philosophy of keeping metals and other valuable raw materials in the supply chain for as long as possible. In this case, Krommenhoek returned the drive shaft in “manageable pieces.” Aperam can then reuse these as raw materials for its own stainless steel production.

In mid-October, after weeks of preparation, the time had come. A heavy-duty crane, brought in specifically for this purpose, was on site at the Aperam factory. It was used to load the old drive shaft onto a truck belonging to Arjen Kandt, a specialist in the transport of heavy and unusual objects. At Krommenhoek Metals, the shaft was lifted off the truck in a single operation using the company’s own 4 x 25-metric-ton overhead cranes and unloaded into the warehouse.

The cardan shaft, which was 600 to 1140 mm thick, was briefly cut with a cutting torch over the course of three days. Krommenhoek returned fifteen sections, each weighing approximately three metric tons, to Aperam. They have since been remelted at the factory into a new product.

“Krommenhoek Metals and Aperam Save 33 Kilotons of CO2 Through Scrap Recycling”

By using its own waste as a raw material for production, the Belgian company has achieved enormous CO2 savings in collaboration with Krommenhoek Metals. Compared to extracting primary raw materials from the earth, these savings amount to 33 kilotons of CO2. Source: MRF calculation tool

About sustainable recyclers Aperam and Krommenhoek Metals
Aperam is one of the world’s largest and most innovative producers of stainless steel, steel, and specialty steel. The group operates in forty countries and produces 2.5 million metric tons of stainless steel annually. Aperam has a total of six production sites spread across Brazil, Belgium, and France. Its products are used in countless sectors, such as the automotive, petrochemical, maritime, biogas, and water industries. A key focus for the coming years is the sustainable production of steel. Aperam’s goal is to further reduce its energy and water consumption by 2030. Starting in 2050, the company aims to operate entirely carbon-neutral.

Krommenhoek Metals is a family-owned business based in Rotterdam that specializes in the recycling of scrap iron and other scrap metals. Collecting materials at the source, processing them into finished products, and efficiently distributing them to smelters both domestically and abroad are among the core activities of this nearly 100-year-old company. Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of the company’s philosophy. For example, CO2 emissions must be reduced by 49% by 2030 compared to 2019. Furthermore, the company is working hard to ensure a fair and safe metal supply chain. To this end, various international projects are underway in the area of fair working conditions, including in India. These projects are carried out in collaboration with NGOs.

https://www.aperamchatelet.be/fr/