From the raw material fields, the smallest particles can be blown up and settle in the surrounding area as dust. The windbreaker is designed to counteract this. It is expected that the windbreaker, together with other Roadmap Plus measures, will result in a 65% reduction in dust deposition.

In consultation with local residents

The windbreaker has been adorned with a painting by the artists of Spatzuiver. The design for this was created in consultation with local residents, the architectural review board, the municipality, and Tata Steel Nederland. The colors were chosen to ensure that the screen blends in with the surroundings as much as possible.

Environmental improvement program Roadmap Plus

The windbreaker is part of a larger environmental improvement program that also includes, for example, extraction hoods and fabric filters in the factories. In December 2023, the largest vacuum cleaner in the Netherlands was put into operation at the Pellet plant, the Blast Furnaces received 6 additional extraction hoods, and the Steel Plant was equipped with a third extraction system that was built through the roof while the plant remained operational.

These measures, like the windbreaker, are part of the Roadmap Plus: a comprehensive environmental improvement program that was established to minimize the nuisance for the surrounding area. Since 2019, Tata Steel Nederland has invested 300 million euros in the Roadmap Plus program.

The Geldermalsen location is part of the downstream activities of Tata Steel Nederland. Earlier, the downstream locations in Naantali (Finland), Halmstad (Sweden), Gelsenkirchen (Germany), and Maastricht (Feijen and MultiSteel) achieved CO₂-neutrality on scope 1 & 2*. This means that the emissions directly related to production are climate neutral.

Govert Kockelkoren, CEO of SAB-profiel: "Our journey to climate neutrality began in 2019 with the construction of our new sandwich panel factory. We immediately chose to build without gas and cover the roof with 4,500 solar panels. We constantly try to improve our footprint by investing in energy savings and reducing our raw material consumption. We have mapped our emissions and set new goals. I am incredibly proud of our team. They have worked incredibly hard to ensure that we produce CO₂-neutral."

About SAB-profiel / Geldermalsen

Tata Steel Nederland consists of two business units: Business Unit Tata Steel IJmuiden (TSIJ) and Business Unit Tata Steel Downstream Europe (TSDE). SAB-profiel is the name of the operating company of Tata Steel Nederland in Geldermalsen and IJsselstein, and is part of TSDE. The company produces, with steel from IJmuiden, roof and facade systems for use in construction. With near to 250 employees spread over three locations (two in the Netherlands and one in Germany), SAB-profiel serves customers all over the world.

About Tata Steel Downstream Europe (TSDE)

Downstream Europe processes steel from IJmuiden for high-quality applications in specific market segments, such as construction (roofing and facade cladding), the mobility sector (cars), and the energy sector (batteries). With 19 production locations in ten countries, TSDE supplies customers mainly in Europe and partly in the United States. TSDE is divided into five business units: Building Systems, Colors, Distribution, Plating, and Tubes.

*Scope 1 refers to direct CO2-emissions caused by sources within the organization itself. Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions that arise from the production of electricity or heat that an organization purchases.

 

The new line involves a so-called decoiler and an automated sheet packaging line at the Feijen location in Maastricht. Here, hot-rolled steel coils from Tata Steel in IJmuiden are processed into steel sheets. In close corporation with the IJmuiden steel mill colleagues, Feijen focusses on customers in Europe as well as in other parts of the world. These customers are active in markets such as agricultural and earthmoving machinery, trailers, cranes, and shipbuilding.

Stig Eriksen, General Manager of Feijen: "With the commissioning of the new decoiler and automated sheet packaging line, we can process steel sheets faster and of higher quality. This is a major improvement in delivery reliability to customers. The project started two years ago with the involvement of customers on their current and future needs. This resulted in its current design with unique capabilities. Our equipment supplier FIMI did a great job.”

About Service Centre Maastricht

Tata Steel Nederland consists of two business units: Business Unit Tata Steel IJmuiden (TSIJ) and Business Unit Tata Steel Downstream Europe (TSDE). Service Centre Maastricht is part of TSDE and consists of two locations: Multisteel and Feijen. Multisteel processes steel coils in the thinner segment, such as cold-rolled and galvanized steel. Feijen processes hot-rolled steel coils. Both sites predominantly process steel coils from TSIJ. Some major end customers supplied from Maastricht include JCB, John Deere, CNH, and Volvo Construction Equipment.

In line with Tata Steel Nederland’s broader vision of sustainability, Service Centre Maastricht announces today its carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This initiative underscores Tata Steel Nederland’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and aligns with its long-term strategy of achieving carbon neutrality across its Downstream operations. Scope 1 concerns direct CO2 emissions caused by sources within the organization itself. Scope 2 concerns indirect emissions created by the production of the electricity or heat that an organization buys.

About Tata Steel Downstream Europe (TSDE)

Downstream Europe processes steel from IJmuiden for high-grade applications in specific market segments, such as construction (metal roofs and wall cladding), the mobility sector and the energy sector (batteries). With 19 production sites in ten countries, TSDE supplies to customers located mainly in Europe and partly in the United States. TSDE is divided into five business units: Building Systems, Colors, Distribution, Plating and Tubes.

 

"This is one of the largest investments in R&D in years," said Vincent Ritman, director of Tata Steel R&D. "With Primetals Technologies, we are bringing in a reliable and knowledgeable partner who will help us to make the connection of the Pellet Plant to the future DRP possible. The installation can produce high-quality and uniform pellets on a large scale (65 kg) for the current pellet research program. This program is part of the intended direct reduction process to make 'green' iron and for testing using hydrogen in the future. We look forward to a professional and enjoyable partnership with Primetals Technologies and strive for a successful end result."

Green Steel transformation

Over the next few years, Tata Steel will transform into a clean, green, and circular steel company. The company is implementing its Green Steel Plan in three phases. The first phase will be operational by 2030 and consists of 1 DRP and 1 Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) to replace Blast Furnace 7 and Coke and Gas Plant 2 (KGF2). This means 40% less CO2 emissions. Tata Steel also aims to take measures to further reduce (fine dust) emissions and increase the use of scrap in steel production (from 17% to 30%).

In the second phase of the transition, Tata Steel aims to close Blast Furnace 6 and Coke and Gas Plant 1 (KGF1). This should lead to a total CO2 reduction of approximately 80%. In the years that follow, with the ultimate goal of 2045, Tata Steel will become fully CO2-neutral.

Tata Steel R&D

Tata Steel R&D is an important part of Tata Steel Nederland. In close collaboration with customers, the innovative business unit develops new steel solutions that help customers distinguish themselves from the competition.

Click here for the Primetals Techologies press release.