thyssenkrupp Steel and Mubea sign memorandum of understanding for the supply of low-CO2 steel from the planned direct reduction plant

The market launch of climate-friendly steel is picking up speed. It was only at the beginning of September that the Executive Board of thyssenkrupp AG cleared the way for the construction of Germany's biggest direct reduction plant for low-CO₂ steel. Now, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG and the global automotive supplier Mubea have signed the first official memorandum of understanding for the supply of CO₂-reduced steel.

Low CO₂ steel for vehicle components

Starting from the commissioning of the direct reduction plant, scheduled for 2026, thyssenkrupp Steel will supply the world market leader in the production of innovative and efficient lightweight components with climate-friendly bluemint^® Steel. In the years up to 2030, the volumes purchased are planned to increase step by step. thyssenkrupp already offers its customers CO₂-reduced and certified steels on the basis of its tkH2Steel^® transformation concept. To this end, various opportunities for CO₂ reduction are being exploited within the existing technology framework. Thus, Mubea is already relying on bluemint^® recycled even before the direct reduction plant starts operation. For this CO₂-reduced flat steel, a high-quality recycled steel product is used in the blast furnace. This new technological approach reduces the use of coal in the blast furnace. For the input volume of the recycled steel product, absolute CO₂ emissions are reduced by 64 percent compared with the conventional blast furnace process.

Long-standing partnership with Mubea

The memorandum of understanding between thyssenkrupp Steel and Mubea strengthens the long-standing partnership between the two companies, and now lays the foundation for long-term supply relationships involving CO₂-reduced steel as well. With their commitment to climate-friendly steel production, thyssenkrupp Steel and Mubea are pursuing the same goal: the transformation to sustainability and climate protection.

The memorandum of understanding signed with thyssenkrupp Steel is a cornerstone of Mubea's ambitious climate strategy. Mubea aims to be climate-neutral as early as 2035 and to reduce the total CO₂ emissions of its business activities by at least 25 percent as early as 2025. However, as the majority of CO₂ emissions from Mubea products come from the up-stream chain, the company is discussing with suppliers such as thyssenkrupp what reductions in specific CO₂ emissions can be achieved within the planned timeframe. On a plant tour of the main sites of future low-CO₂ production, the Mubea Executive Board saw for themselves the planned scope of the transformation at thyssenkrupp Steel Europe in Duisburg. Because to achieve the climate targets in the industry, it is crucial to consider the emissions of the entire supply chain. The CO₂-reduced steel from thyssenkrupp Steel will make an important contribution to this in the future.

About thyssenkrupp Steel Europe

thyssenkrupp Steel Europe is Germany's biggest steel manufacturer. The Duisburg-based company with around 26,000 employees is one of the world's leading suppliers of high-quality steel products for innovative and demanding applications, as well as for providing steel-related services. Steel production at thyssenkrupp Steel Europe is planned to be completely climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest. The decisive step in this direction will be the construction of hydrogen-based direct reduction plants in conjunction with innovative melting units. The first plant is scheduled to go on stream in Duisburg in 2026. Production of five million metric tons of low-CO₂ steel is already planned for 2030.

About Mubea

Mubea is an owner-managed family business based in Attendorn, Westphalia, Germany, with more than 14,000 employees spread across 44 locations in 20 countries. The top automotive supplier not only develops products for chassis, body and the powertrain, but is also active in the aviation, industry and micromobility sectors. With its core competence – the development and production of best-in-class lightweight construction solutions – the Mubea Group of Companies contributes significantly to the success of conventional and electrified vehicles. The company, with annual sales of 2.8 billion euros, is the world market leader for lightweight spring components.

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thyssenkrupp Steel and Mubea sign memorandum of understanding (from left to right): Dr. Christian Lehr (Head of Sales Processing Industries & Steel Service Centers Automotive, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG), Bernhard Osburg (Chief Executive Board, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG), Dr. Lutz-Eike Elend (Managing Director, Member of the Group Executive Board, Mubea) Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold (Chief Operations Officer Executive Board, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG), Dr. Andreas Hauger (Managing Director, Member of the Group Executive Board, Mubea), Jörg Paffrath (Head of Sales Industry, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG), Tobias Klein (Global Purchasing Director, Mubea).

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thyssenkrupp Steel to supply CO₂-reduced bluemint^® Steel to Mubea (from left to right): Dr. Christian Lehr (Head of Sales Processing Industries & Steel Service Centers Automotive, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG), Dr. Lutz-Eike Elend (Managing Director, Member of the Group Executive Board, Mubea), Dr. Andreas Hauger (Managing Director, Member of the Group Executive Board, Mubea), Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold (Chief Operations Officer Executive Board, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG), Tobias Klein (Global Purchasing Director, Mubea), Jörg Paffrath (Head of Sales Industry, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG).