Epiroc accelerates their green transition and begins serial production using SSAB Zero™ steel

Launched in 2024, Epiroc’s Scooptram ST18 SG underground loader will feature a bucket manufactured with SSAB Zero™. This makes Epiroc one of the first mining equipment manufacturers in the world to feature virtually emission-free steel in a commercial product.

Epiroc’s Scooptram ST18 SG underground loader is fully electric and automation ready. It also features a loading bucket made with SSAB Zero™, a steel made using recycled steel and fossil-free electricity and biogas. The result is a reduction of 15 tonnes of CO₂e per bucket produced compared with traditional steel.

With the introduction of SSAB Zero™ into serial production, Epiroc takes a significant step forward in its efforts to decarbonize the mining industry. “Our overall sustainability target is to reduce our carbon emissions with 50% by 2030,” says Carin Bergendorff, Vice President Group Strategic Sourcing, Epiroc. “By introducing SSAB Zero™ in our serial production, we show this is not just talk – we are actually taking action and reducing our upstream footprint.”

By introducing SSAB Zero™ in our serial production, we show this is not just talk – we are actually taking action and reducing our upstream footprint.

Carin Bergendorff, Vice President Group Strategic Sourcing at Epiroc

Collaboration key to a decarbonized mining industry

The new Scooptram ST18 SG is just the latest step in a long running partnership between Epiroc and SSAB. In 2023, the two companies signed a delivery agreement for SSAB Zero™.

Epiroc estimates that around 11 percent of its total CO₂e emissions comes from its suppliers, and about half of that comes from the steel and raw material purchased to produce its products.

“If we look at our upstream emissions, steel and raw materials are the biggest contributors,” says Carin Bergendorff. “Epiroc wants to transform our industry, and therefore, the partnership with SSAB is very important.”

A journey towards emission-free steelmaking

SSAB is revolutionizing steelmaking with two unique steels with virtually zero fossil carbon emissions in the production process. SSAB Zero™, is made using recycled steel and fossil-free energy. SSAB Fossil-free™ steel is being developed and is produced by using hydrogen reduced sponge iron based on HYBRIT^® technology, emitting water instead of CO₂ as the by-product. Epiroc is one of a number of companies from a wide range of different industries who are currently collaborating with SSAB to decarbonize their production processes and products.

“Steel makes up a major part of the embedded carbon in Epiroc’s products, so traditional steelmaking just isn't good enough,” says Thomas Hörnfeldt, Vice President Sustainable Business, SSAB. “That's the reason why several years ago, we embarked on the journey towards emission-free steelmaking. By working together with leading companies, we can, step-by-step in different industries, show the world what the future is going to look like.”