Steel at the Heart of Europe’s Industrial Sovereignty

Facing increasing global competition, rising energy costs and the need to decarbonise heavy industry, the European Commission has introduced the European Steel and Metals Action Plan. Its objective is to preserve a competitive European steel industry while accelerating the transition towards low-carbon production.

The Action Plan focuses on several priorities:

• strengthening trade defence measures against unfair imports;
• supporting investment in electric arc furnaces and low-carbon production technologies;
• securing access to strategic raw materials;
• fostering industrial innovation throughout the metals value chain.

Direct Implications for Mould Manufacturers

Technical steels are essential components of extrusion blow moulds, determining tool precision, durability and overall production performance.The European strategy should progressively contribute to:

• more secure steel supply chains;
• wider availability of low-carbon steels;
• improved traceability of environmental data associated with metallic materials.

Over the coming years, customers are also expected to request more detailed information regarding the origin and carbon footprint of the steels incorporated into industrial tooling.