The agreement, supported by an initial investment of more than one million euros mainly made by DuPont, exemplifies the concept of circular economy and will lead to significant reductions in energy, water and transport consumption for both companies.
December 10th, 2018 – The Gonvarri group, with plants in Asturias, Burgos and Tarragona, and the DuPont industrial site in Asturias, have signed an innovative agreement whereby a secondary product from DuPont, called hydrochloric acid, is transferred to the metallurgical group’s production process.
“At DuPont we always try to keep improving our business processes. These interventions can take place at the factory level, in the way we transport specific substances, or in any other of our daily operations. In this case, it has been key to find a partner for whom a hydrochloric acid stream of medium concentration, below what is considered marketable, would have an added value. This partnership allows us to prevent the neutralization of this secondary product with caustic soda, since it involves an economic expense, but also considerable resources and logistics ” comments Ángela Santianes, Country Leader at DuPont Spain.
Additionally, Gonvarri uses hydrochloric acid in a concentration that is similar to DuPont’s secondary product. That is why it makes sense to transfer it and reuse it for several production processes in its Spanish facilities of Cancienes (Asturias), which is only 3km away from DuPont’s site, as well as in the plants of Burgos and Tarragona.
“Gonvarri is progressively moving towards the circularity of its production processes” said Jon Riberas, President of Gonvarri “We were aware of the existence of synergies, but the complexity of the compatibility tests, together with the adjustments in several processes, have required a great determination for the achievement of an agreement in which we all ultimately benefit. DuPont avoids buying, transporting and handling soda, Gonvarri acquires the acid at a reduced cost for its pickling lines and all this results in a lower consumption of chlorine”.
While this agreement, based on key principles of the circular economy, has required an initial investment of one million euros, the benefits obtained for both, the companies and the reduction of the environmental footprint, are worthy. The production of chlorine requires a large amount of energy and water, therefore it is estimated that this initiative will reduce the equivalent to one year water consumption of a town of 350 inhabitants, DuPont’s electricity consumption of one month in Asturias (equivalent to the energy consumed by 1,500 homes in a year) and a total of 500,000 km/year in ground transport.
About Gonvarri
Gonvarri Steel Services has 43 factories in the Steel transformation sector for automotive, road safety, material handling and solar energy in 19 countries and reached a revenue of 3,000 million euros in 2017.
About DowDuPont Specialty Products Division
DowDuPont Specialty Products, a division of DowDuPont (NYSE: DWDP), is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials, ingredients and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, building and construction, health and wellness, food and worker safety. DowDuPont intends to separate the Specialty Products Division, which will be called DuPont, into an independent, publicly traded company. More information can be found www.dow-dupont.com.
