Outokumpu to supply global water pump maker

Finland-based stainless steel producer Outokumpu has reached an agreement with water pump maker and longtime customer Grundfos to supply it almost exclusively with Outokumpu Circle Green-branded stainless steel.

According to Outokumpu, this year, about 90 percent of the stainless steel it supplies to Denmark-based Grundfos in its global operations is Circle Green-branded.

Outokumpu says Circle Green offers an up to 93 percent lower carbon footprint compared with a global stainless steel industry average calculated by the World Stainless Association and two metals information services firms.

To achieve the low carbon footprint measure, Outokumpu relies to a great extent on using recycled feedstock, with a company spokesperson telling Recycling Today in 2022 that Circle Green possessed 90 to 98 percent scrap content.

“Stainless steel is the most versatile industrial material and heavily needed for applications including clean energy and water solutions, playing a vital part for innovation and technological progress,” says Jörg Müller, a sales executive with Outokumpu.

“With our long-term customer Grundfos, we share the same ambition and commitment to Science-Based Targets and decarbonization goals, and we are happy to support their next step in sustainability by significantly reducing emissions from the company’s entire supply chain and solutions."

Although based in Denmark, Grundfos has operations in other nations, including the United States.

“Grundfos actively seeks partners with the same commitment to sustainability and climate resiliency to make an even bigger impact in solving the world’s water and climate challenges,” says Ulrik Gernow, chief operating officer of Grundfos.

“Partnering with Outokumpu and switching to green steel is Grundfos’ first tangible effort in our supply chain decarbonization program. It will significantly contribute to lowering our own carbon footprint and helping our customers lower their footprint as well.”

Earlier this month, Grundfos announced an expansion of its facilities in Brookshire, Texas, saying a multimillion-dollar investment there will increase capacity and reiterate Grundfos’ long-term commitment to the U.S. and its "strategic ambition of delivering annual double-digit growth through 2030 in the hugely important American market.”

Grundfos says it has experienced significant growth in the U.S. in recent years, calling it the company’s largest market currently, accounting for approximately 25 percent of revenue.

The new production facility will primarily serve the water utility and commercial buildings markets and what Grundfos calls increasing demand for “cooling solutions for data centers.”

“Grundfos is at the forefront of creating more sustainable commercial buildings and will launch a pipeline of new, modular products from the new facility,” says Bent Jensen, CEO of Grundfos’ Commercial Building Services division. “Additionally, the new facility will help us meet the increasing demand for cooling solutions for data centers across the country. We see a strong demand and growth outlook for data center cooling systems.”