With an investment of over EUR 90 million in the development of an innovative plant at its Lens site by 2026, Nexans will expand its wire rod production capacity by more than 50% and increase its copper scrap recycling capabilities to handle up to 80,000 metric tons annually.
Oct 25, 2024
Nexans has announced a major industrial partnership agreement with Continuus Properzi, a specialist in continuous casting technologies, to build an innovative copper production and recycling plant at the Nexans site in Lens, northern France, for 2026.
This strategic decision is based on the operational expertise of the Nexans site, founded in 1971 in the industrial center of Lens, and the technological expertise of Continuus Properzi, a supplier of complete installations for the production of ETP (Electrolytic Tough Pitch) and FRHC (Fire Refined High Conductivity) wire rod. The objective is to continuously produce wire rod from recycled copper, through a state-of-the-art refining method using up to 100% of recycled metal, while optimizing water and energy consumption.
The Lens plant is the only copper rod foundry in France. With this investment of over EUR 90 million, it will increase its wire rod production capacity by over 50%, and boost its copper scrap recycling capacity to manage up to 80,000 metric tons per year.
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With this new initiative, the Group has become a key player in the circular economy of the European copper industry. Implemented for the first time in France, this process will help to create a circular model by collecting waste from different sectors of industry across France and reusing it virtuously for new finished products.
This investment is also part of the Group’s efforts to raise the proportion of recycled copper in its cables to 30% by 2030. The new site further consolidates Nexans’ presence in Lens, increasing the number of jobs. It is also in line with the company’s E3 performance model, bringing together economic performance, the environment and employee engagement.
Christopher Guérin, CEO of Nexans, said, ‘‘By choosing to increase its recycling capacity, Nexans is proving that it is possible to reconcile industrial performance with the preservation of biodiversity. Through this investment in its historic Lens plant, Nexans is ensuring its strategic independence and staying ahead of the raw materials crisis, serving its customers and partners.’’
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He adds, ‘‘By supporting employment and investment at our metallurgical site, we are also proving that an innovative industry can be a local industry. I am particularly proud of this partnership, which strengthens our supply chain and enables us to better anticipate a fundamental trend for the Group and our customers, where today’s waste will become tomorrow’s growth.”
Giulio Properzi, President of Continuus-Properzi, said, I feel extremely proud to have signed this strategic agreement with Nexans. Our collaboration is based on the recycling of copper scrap. In compliance with the exacting requirements of Nexans engineering and the Lens site in particular, we have configured an installation that will meet the highest standards in years to come in terms of industrial performance, energy savings and environmental footprint.’’
