Federal Minister of Labor, Hubertus Heil, finds out about the advantages of electric steel at Deutsche Edelstahlwerke

As part of his summer tour in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hubertus Heil, the German Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, visited Deutsche Edelstahlwerke (DEW) in Witten Tuesday morning. The main topic of his trip is the transformation of work in the industrial heart of Germany. The minister was able to acquaint himself on site with the pioneering role of electric steel production.

Accompanied by CEO Frank Koch, Minister Heil toured the Witten steel and rolling mill where 1,800 employees are already producing steel with a smaller CO₂ footprint. He was visibly impressed by the potential of electric steel produced in the electric arc furnace for sustainable “green steel” from Germany. Using recycled scrap and electricity –in future derived from 100% regenerative energy sources – the CO₂ footprint of steel from Deutsche Edelstahlwerke is already today around 80% lower than the worldwide average of all steel producers.

Frank Koch said in this context: “Our steel from the electric arc furnace will become the green steel of this decade. We are setting the standard, also for the blast furnace route, but, as a medium-sized industrial company, we are often neglected by the political sector. We were all the more pleased with Minister Heil’s visit. We hope that in Berlin he will champion adequate support for the electric steel route in its further transformation.”

The Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil, emphasized: “The primary industry plays a very important role for Germany. It is also important to me that Germany as an industrial location maintains the entire value-add chain. Innovation, technological progress, products that are sustainable and also of outstanding quality help preserve these important jobs in steel production.”

Minister Heil also spoke with employees and the Chairman of the General Works Council, Burak Bilal, during his tour. Last Friday, July 7, 2023, constructive discussions with labor representatives, the German metalworkers’ union IG Metall, and company management were able to conclude an agreement on a rescue package for DEW. The collective reorganization agreement including reconciliation of interests and a social plan will now be submitted to the respective bodies for approval. A major milestone for the realignment of Deutsche Edelstahlwerke will thus be completed shortly. 

 

About Swiss Steel Group
The Swiss Steel Group today is one of the world’s leading providers of individual solutions in the special long steel products sector. The Group is one of the leading manufacturers of tool steel and non-corrosive long steel on the global market and one of the largest companies in Europe for alloyed and high-alloyed constructional steel. With close to 10,000 employees and in-house production and distribution companies in over 30 countries and on 5 continents, the company guarantees its customers a global supply and customer service, and offers them a complete production portfolio as well as sales and services around the world. 

 

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Anina Berger
Vice President Corporate Marketing and Communication

Steeltec AG  
c/o Swiss Steel Holding AG
Landenbergstrasse 11
CH-6005 Lucerne
Tel: +41 (0) 41 581 4121
communications(at)swisssteelgroup.com

 

Helmut Freiherr von Fircks
Communications

Steeltec AG
c/o Swiss Steel Holding AG 
Landenbergstrasse 11
CH 6005 Lucerne
M: +41 795484895
M: +49 172 296 2222
h.freiherrvonfircks(at)ext.swisssteelgroup.com