The transformation of the metals industry towards climate neutrality was the main theme of Bright World of Metals, (12.-16.6.23), which was successfully held in Düsseldorf. The exhibiting companies and specialist conferences focused on technologies and solutions for decarbonization, sustainability, energy and resource efficiency in the sense of a circular economy across all stages of the value chain according to the cradle-to-cradle approach.
Messe Düsseldorf picked up on this development years ago with its ecoMetals initiative. The exhibitors' offerings were correspondingly diverse. A total of 63,262 international visitors accepted the invitation to the Düsseldorf exhibition grounds. Around two thirds of all visitors came from abroad, about one third of whom traveled from outside Europe.
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Sustainability, energy and resource efficiency are the trends in the foundry industry. However, the decarbonization strategies of this heterogeneous industry are just as diverse as the materials and casting processes of the individual foundry companies. Other topics on the sustainability agenda of foundries and foundry technology providers are resource and energy efficiency. Green hydrogen plays a role in particular as a climate-neutral substitute for natural gas in heating furnaces, albeit to a much lesser extent than in the steel industry, for example.
Transformation energy no. 1 for foundries is green electricity
The No. 1 transformation energy for foundries is green electricity, as BDG Managing Director Max Schumacher made clear. Take DiHAG, for example: eight foundries in the iron and steel casting sectors operate under the umbrella of the foundry group. The company operates five induction furnaces for the iron foundries and an electric arc furnace at the SHB steel foundry in Leipzig. CEO Viktor Babushchak is focusing on self-supply of electricity for the entire Group. The holding company set up its own grid with Giga Energy GmbH back in 2016. Around half of the electricity now comes from renewable energies. Babushchak's goal is to generate its own green electricity supply from 80 percent wind energy and 20 percent photovoltaics. The main problem, complains Babushchak, is the bureaucracy involved in obtaining approval for wind turbines. This is why the foundry group is currently making little progress with its self-imposed expansion targets.
