There are various ways to saveCO2 in non-ferrous metal processing. These include the optimization of production processes, the use of energy-efficient technologies, the use of renewable energies and the reduction of waste and emissions. By implementing these measures, companies in the non-ferrous metal processing industry can reduce theircarbon footprint and contribute to climate protection.
The metal industry plays an important role in reducingCO2 emissions and promoting sustainability. At FELDER, perspectives were developed at an early stage on how production in the non-ferrous metal industry can be sustainable andCO2-neutral.
More sustainability in production and processing
In order to reduceCO2 emissions during production, the industry should increase the proportion of recycled scrap metal. For the metal tin, which is mainly used for solders in the electrical and electronics sector as well as for tinplate production and tin chemicals, there has been no primary production in Germany for some time now. For secondary tin production, old and new metals[*] are recovered in solder production, for example, and fed back into the economic cycle as new products.
FELDER Recycling in Loffenau
In 2008, FELDER received approval from the Düsseldorf district government for the first time to collect metal waste from soldering processes from its customers and return it to solder production in accordance with Section 26 (3) of the Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management Act. FELDER Recycling in Loffenau, Baden-Württemberg, deals exclusively with the recycling process of tin-based solder waste and has been approved as a certified waste management company since June 2000 in the interests of sustainable recycling management.
Solder dross at FELDERThecompany provides its customers with free deposit collection containers for the collection of solder dross. This also ensures safe transportation to the plants.
FELDER is one of the TOP 3 companies in Germany that use recycled raw materials for tin. This was the conclusion reached recently by the German Raw Materials Agency, which examined the 'Status Quo of Recycling in Metal Production and Processing in Germany'[**] in a study. Recycling processes have also been used in the metal production sector for a long time in order to contribute to climate and environmental protection. The quality of high-quality recycled raw materials is comparable to that of primary raw materials, meaning that the industry can use them to manufacture its products and save large amounts ofCO2 emissions and energy. By recycling around 750 tons of tin and tin alloys per year, FELDER is able to achieveCO2 savings of 9,500 tons ofCO2 per year compared to the use of corresponding primary raw materials, and the trend is rising. FELDER has been using coils made from recycled plastic for solder wires since 2019.
The spools are made from 100% recycled plastic, which comes from the dual system. Due to the special design, significantly less plastic is required for production. The spools also offer the advantage that the solder wires are wound more gently and without any deformation. Thanks to the adapted geometry, they can be used in all standard soldering machines.
Use of renewable energies
The metal industry should increasingly rely on renewable energies such as solar energy, wind power or hydropower in order to minimize itsCO2 footprint. After almost six months of planning and preparation, the time had finally come in May 2023.in just four days, the BW-Energy team had managed to install 338 solar modules with a total area of 660m2, facing east-west, on the roofs of the production facility in Oberhausen.in addition, around 4.5 km of electrical cables were laid to connect the solar modules to each other.the photovoltaic system has an output of 110 KWp. 80% of the 118 MWh of electricity planned annually will flow into the company's own production. The rest will be used in the new heat pump-based heating system. This will also enable FELDER to save around 60 tons ofCO2 per year.
Solar power can save approx. 60 tons ofCO2 per year
Use of machines and electrical installations with high energy efficiency
More efficient processes and technologies can reduce energy consumption and thus also reduceCO2 emissions.in 2022, FELDER replaced the majority of the gas furnaces in the smelter with modern, electrically heated furnaces with higher efficiency, which are operated with electricity from the company's own photovoltaic system and from external renewable energy.at the same time, the conversion of all lighting at the FELDER plants in Oberhausen and Loffenau to efficient and long-lasting LEDs was started. This project was completed in fall 2023.
Cooperation and knowledge transfer
Cooperation between industry, research institutions and governments is crucial to developing sustainable solutions, and FELDER relies on strong partners such as the climate protection organization atmosfair to voluntarilyoffset CO2 emissions by supporting global projects:
- clean electricity from solar systems
- small hydropower projects
- efficient ovens
- environmental education
Tin from demonstrably sustainable mining, smelting and recycling companies
The challenge is to implement these measures and at the same time meet the growing demand for metallic materials. Therefore, in addition to recycled raw materials, electrolytically recycled tin from European smelters is also used. When using tin from primary smelters, FELDER takes particular care to ensure that it comes from sustainable and trustworthy sources in South America wherever possible.
The company guarantees that the tin used for solder production comes exclusively from approved mines in accordance with the 'Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI)'[***].
For many years, electrolytically extracted tin from a European smelter has been used for customers who value solders of the highest purity or European origin.
But even among approved mine operators, preference is given to producers who prioritize special initiatives with regard to environmental conditions within the mining areas and working conditions for their employees. As a supplier to US listed companies directly affected by the Dodd-Frank Act, FELDER Löttechnik is of course indirectly involved as part of the supply chain. The proof of origin of tin, for example, has been requested for years within the value chain, particularly in the automotive industry. However, the company is also aware of its social and environmental responsibility when selecting raw material suppliers. The financing of armed conflicts by mines operated by Hutu militias in the Congo, as well as child labor in Asia and South America, cannot be ignored. This is why FELDER is happy to disclose its CFSI-certified sources of supply. Since 2019, FELDER has preferred to source tin from MINSUR, a mining and extraction company in Peru whose corporate philosophy is based on transparency and therefore on environmental protection, occupational safety and fair working conditions.
Especially for customers who attach great importance to solders of the highest purity (especially low Pb values < 50 ppm) or also to a European origin, electrolytically extracted tin from a European smelter has been used in the smelter for many years.
FELDER Löttechnik will be exhibiting at SMTconnect in Hall 4, Stand 135 .
References
[*] Old scrap is collected material and consists of consumer goods scrap and scrap from demolition, industry and commerce. New scrap is production waste from the metalworking industry. (Source: Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Disposal).
[**] www.deutsche-rohstoffagentur.de/DE/Gemeinsames/Produkte/Downloads/DERA_Rohstoffinformationen/rohstoffinformationen-57.pdf, p. 50 (retrieved: 21.05.2024).
[***] www.responsiblemineralsinitiative.org (Retrieved: 21.05.2024).
