K-Tec is first to build sustainable earthmoving equipment with fossil-free steel in collaboration with SSAB

• K-Tec partners with SSAB to pilot the use of SSAB Fossil-free™ steel in its earthmoving equipment.

• This initiative marks K-Tec as the first OEM of heavy-duty earth scrapers to use fossil-free steel.

• K-Tec aims to reduce carbon emissions by incorporating SSAB's virtually zero CO2 emission steel in its products.

• The collaboration highlights K-Tec's commitment to innovation and sustainability in the construction and mining industries.

• SSAB's HYBRIT-technology enables the production of steel with water as a by-product instead of carbon dioxide emissions.

K-Tec has entered an agreement with SSAB, to become the first original equipment manufacturer of heavy-duty earth scrapers to pilot SSAB Fossil-free^™ steel in its earthmoving product line.

Advertisement

Part of the K.A. Group, K-Tec takes the first step toward eliminating carbon emissions by focusing on material selection. As a fossil-free partner to SSAB, K-Tec will have access to pilot deliveries of SSAB Fossil-free™ steel, which has virtually zero carbon dioxide emissions from the steelmaking process. The steel initially will be used in K-Tec's key products serving the construction and mining industries.

K.A. Group's President and CEO, Dan Pashniak says, "We are thrilled to have our K-Tec earthmoving equipment brand as the first scraper solution to incorporate SSAB Fossil-free™ steel, continuing our commitment to innovation. It is also an honor for our organization to be the first Canadian manufacturing partner to collaborate with SSAB in this crucial initiative to lead our industry. We are excited to partner with SSAB as they strive to provide environmental steel solutions to advance towards a sustainable future.”

This collaborative initiative is K-Tec’s next step in reducing emissions and improving sustainability for its customers. The company already designs, manufactures and delivers strong, lightweight earthmoving equipment built with SSAB’s Hardox® wear steel and Strenx® performance steel brands.

The massive advantage of K-Tec scrapers is using lightweight, strong steel, so that contractors can haul more material, instead of heavy iron. Additionally, K-Tec’s high-capacity scrapers allow for greater production requiring less cycles per day to shrink the earthmoving carbon footprint compared to traditional methods of earthmoving.

“This partnership demonstrates the commitment from both companies toward reducing carbon emissions,” says Johnny Sjöström, Head of Special Steels at SSAB. “Our transformation to change the way steel is made is well underway, and we are proud to already have reached this far in our journey towards a fossil-free future.”

As a market leader in premium steels, SSAB plans to revolutionize the entire steelmaking process by producing steel with virtually zero carbon dioxide emissions. The pilot deliveries of SSAB Fossil-free™ steel are made using the unique HYBRIT-technology, which was jointly developed by SSAB, iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall. It replaces the coking coal traditionally used for iron ore-based steelmaking with fossil-free electricity and green hydrogen. The by-product is water instead of carbon dioxide emissions.