Nexans signs strategic investment agreement in France to expand copper production and recycling capacity across Europe
press release_
Nexans plans to invest more than 90 million euros in the development of an innovative plant at the Lens site by 2026. Nexans’ strategic supplier for this investment is Continuus Properzi, a specialist in copper and aluminum continuous casting, rolling and smelting technology. With production capacity increased by more than 50%, the future lens factory will be able to recycle up to 80,000 tonnes of copper per year. Nexans reaffirms its ability to plan for shortages of copper, a metal essential to global sustainable electrification. Strengthen the industrial base in France.
Paris, 22 October 2024 – Nexans, the world leader in electrification, has signed a major industrial partnership agreement with Continuus Properzi, a specialist in continuous casting technology, to bring innovative copper to the Nexans site in northern Reims. announced the construction of a production and recycling plant. France, 2026.
Global demand for copper continues to increase, and recycling has emerged as a key solution to the potential shortage of copper, which is essential for electrification. Nexans is taking steps to address this major challenge with projects of unique scale.
This strategic decision leverages the operational expertise of the Nexans site, established in 1971 in the industrial heart of Lens, and the technology of Continuus Properzi, a supplier of complete equipment for the production of ETP (Electrolytic Tough Pitch) and FRHC. Based on expert knowledge. Fire-refined highly conductive) wire rod. The aim is to continuously produce wire from recycled copper through state-of-the-art refining methods using up to 100% recycled metal while optimizing water and energy consumption.
The lens factory is the only copper rod foundry in France. This investment of more than 90 million euros will increase wire rod production capacity by more than 50% and strengthen copper scrap recycling capacity, allowing the company to manage up to 80,000 tonnes per year. Nexans is already active in cable recycling through Recycâbles, a joint venture it established with Suez in 2008. This new initiative makes Nexans Group a key player in the circular economy of the European copper industry. First introduced in France, this process helps create a circular model by collecting waste from various industrial sectors across France and judiciously reusing it as new finished products.
Nexans is a vertically integrated company with its own copper foundry1, a world leader in its field. The Group is completely self-sufficient in the supply of copper required throughout the cable production value chain. This important strategic advantage will be enhanced by the new plant, which will enable the Group to recycle more cables from construction sites and “urban mines”.
Nexans’ goal is to adapt the lifecycle of its products to reduce carbon content, while simultaneously reducing the cable industry’s overall carbon footprint. The investment is also part of the group’s commitment to increase the proportion of recycled copper in its cables to 30% by 2030.
The new site further strengthens Nexans’ presence in Lens and increases the number of jobs while creating new working environments for staff. The project is part of France’s investment plan, France 2030. This is also consistent with the company’s E3 performance model, which integrates economic performance, environment and employee engagement.
Christopher Guerin, CEO of Nexans, said: “Recycling protects biodiversity. Nexans is proving that it is possible to reconcile industrial performance with biodiversity conservation by choosing to increase recycling capacity. Through this investment in our lens factory, Nexans is ensuring strategic independence, staying ahead of the raw material crisis and serving our customers and partners by supporting employment and investment in our metallurgy site. , proving that an innovative industry can be a local industry. I am especially proud of this partnership, which strengthens our supply chain and connects our group with the ability to turn today’s waste into tomorrow’s growth. We can better predict the fundamental trends of our customers.”
Giulio Properzi, President of Continuus-Properzi, added: “We are very proud to have signed this strategic agreement with Nexans, which is very famous in cable manufacturing.” Our cooperation is based on the recycling of copper scrap. This is a topic we have been working on for many years, going back to the pioneering days when my father first developed continuous casting technology for copper rods. Nexans Engineering and in particular complied with the strict requirements of the Lens site and configured the facility to meet the highest standards in terms of industrial performance, energy savings and environmental footprint for years to come. I am very happy to have been able to witness the beginning of such a fundamental project. For me, this is the culmination of a personal journey that began more than 50 years ago, the aim of which has always been to improve the technology used in wire manufacturing, which is the industry value of all power cables. This is the first step in the chain. ”
About Nexans
For more than a century, Nexans have played a key role in electrifying the planet. Now, the company is working on electrifying the future. With around 28,500 employees in 41 countries, the group is leading the way to a new world of safe, sustainable and decarbonized electricity for everyone. In 2023, Nexans generated €6.5 billion in standard sales. The Group is a leader in the design and manufacture of cable systems and services across four main business areas: Generation and Transmission, Distribution and Utilization, and Industry and Solutions. Nexans created the industry’s first foundation to support sustainable initiatives, bringing energy access to underprivileged communities around the world. The Group is recognized as a global leader in climate action on the CDP Climate Change A List and is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Nexan. Electrification for the future.
Nexans is listed in compartment A of Euronext Paris.
For more information, please visit our website www.nexans.com.
contact address:
communication
Mael Evin (Habas Paris)
Phone number: +33 (0)6 44 12 14 91
nexans_h@havas.com
Emmanuel Guinot
emmanuel.guinot@nexans.com
Emmanuel Guy
emmanuelle.guy@nexans.com
Investor information
Elodie Robb-Mouillot
Phone number: +33 (0)1 78 15 03 87
elodie.robbe-mouillot@nexans.com
1 Cathode and copper scrap is processed at four foundries in France (Lens location), Canada, Peru, and Chile.
2024_10_22-pr_Nexans signs strategic investment agreement in France
