Schneider Electric partners with ArcelorMittal on low-carbon steel

ArcelorMittal and Schneider Electric has announced a partnership whereby ArcelorMittal will supply Schneider Electric with XCarb recycled and renewably produced steel for its electrical cabinets and enclosures. 

Produced at ArcelorMittal’s site in Sestao, Spain, XCarb recycled and renewably produced steel is made using a very high proportion of recycled steel in an electric arc furnace, powered with 100% renewable electricity. This results in CO₂ emissions which are close to 70% lower than the same product made without XCarb recycled and renewably produced steel.   

ArcelorMittal’s XCarb recycled and renewably produced steel will be used by Schneider Electric to manufacture the new PanelSeT SFN floor-standing enclosures built to protect large electrical panels for industrial automation, power distribution and electronic applications. As these enclosures are built to withstand tough operating environments, the XCarb recycled and renewably produced steel is also coated with Magnelis, a metallic coating offering high corrosion protection.  

The partnership is the result of several months of technical partnership and collaboration between ArcelorMittal Steel Services Centre Europe and Schneider Electric, to find the right grade of steel and coating for the project. Earlier this year, Schneider Electric announced the opening of a new roll-forming workshop at its Sarel factory in Alsace, France to prepare the low-carbon emissions steel enclosure parts that are assembled at Schneider’s Capellades factory near Barcelona, Spain. The low-carbon emissions steel used in these plants is supplied by ArcelorMittal Steel Service Centres Europe from its distribution centre in Reims, France.  

“At Schneider Electric, sustainability is at the core of our mission, driving us to innovate and create a more sustainable future. We call this Electricity 4.0, meaning the integration of digital technologies with electrification for sustainability. In this effort, we recognise the power of partnerships to make an even greater impact on our journey to net zero,” says Rohan Kelkar, Schneider Electric’s Executive Vice President of Power Products Division. 

According to its net zero commitment validated by the Science-based Targets initiative, Schneider Electric plans to be ‘net zero ready’ across its operations with an absolute carbon reduction target of 25% across its entire value chain by 2030. The company has set specific targets to increase to 50% the volume of green materials – including low-carbon steel – used in its products as part of the ongoing 2021-2025 Schneider Sustainability Impact program. Schneider Electric is also a member of the Responsible Steel Initiative for responsibly sourced and produced steel.  

ArcelorMittal Europe has a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 35% by 2030, and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.