SSAB and Putzmeister have a long history of partnership and technical cooperation. By using Strenx® high-strength structural steel and Hardox® wear plates from SSAB in new and innovative ways, Putzmeister has developed very strong and lightweight truck chassis, pump crane booms and concrete mixer drums. The lighter machines increase machine performance but also reduce the carbon footprint.
Now SSAB and Putzmeister have signed an agreement to take the next step. By replacing conventional steel with steel produced using the unique HYBRIT® technology, a significant part of the carbon footprint can be eliminated. The HYBRIT® technology, developed by SSAB in partnership with mining company LKAB and energy company Vattenfall, uses green hydrogen and fossil-free electricity instead of coking coal to make steel, thus largely eliminating the heavy CO2 emissions associated with traditional steel production. This revolutionary process emits water as the main by-product instead of CO2.
“We are delighted to welcome Putzmeister as a new global partner. By choosing steel produced with HYBRIT® technology, Putzmeister is demonstrating that it is possible to reduce the carbon footprint of construction equipment while keeping the same high quality of steel,” says Thomas Hörnfeldt, VP of Sustainable Business at SSAB.
“As a leading manufacturer in the construction equipment sector, we are aware of our impact and responsibility for the environment. Reducing the carbon footprint of our construction equipment is one of Putzmeister’s key priorities for the future. By partnering with SSAB, we will be able to offer construction equipment with a significantly lower carbon footprint and set a new standard for efficient and sustainable construction,” says Alexander Diez, Head of Group GRC & Sustainability at Putzmeister.
Climate impact reduction of steel production
Traditional steel production accounts for around 7% of global CO2 emissions, with both primary steel and recycled steel production contributing to emissions.
To reduce the climate impact, SSAB is investing in new innovative production technologies that will enable steel production with close to zero fossil carbon emissions, regardless of whether the raw material is scrap and primary iron ore.
SSAB ZeroTM is based on recycled steel and produced with fossil-free electricity and biogas and is available for commercial deliveries since 2023. SSAB’s fossil-free steel is made from iron ore with the HYBRIT® technology. In 2021, SSAB produced the world’s first fossil-free steel as a proof of concept using HYBRIT® technology and has since made several pilot deliveries to customers in different industries.
