Continuus-Properzi Signs Partnership Agreement with Nexans
Continuus-Properzi S.p.A., Milano, Italy, a leading company in continuous casting and refining technologies for nonferrous metals, and Nexans, Paris, France, recognized for its innovation in electrification worldwide, announced a strategic industrial partnership agreement for a turnkey project aimed at recycling up to 80,000 metric tons of copper per year, in addition to the production of 160,000 metric tons of ETP (Electrolytic Tough Pitch) rod per year. This important step builds on the operational experience of Nexans’ Lens Industrial Center site, established in 1971, and the decades of technological expertise of Continuus-Properzi, the “world’s leading supplier of complete ETP and FRHC (Fire Refined High Conductivity) wire rod plants.” The goal of the partnership is to produce wire rod from recycled copper through a state-of-the-art refining system that processes up to 100% of copper scrap, optimizing water and energy consumption. The new plant, which will be based in Lens, France, will be operational in 2026, and the investment for Nexans is more than €90 million.
Giulio Properzi, President of Continuus-Properzi, says, “I feel extremely proud to have signed this strategic agreement with Nexans, a highly prestigious name in cable manufacturing. Our collaboration is based on the recycling of copper scrap, a subject we have been working on for many years, dating back to the pioneering days when my father first developed the technology for the continuous casting of copper rod. 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. It gives me immense satisfaction to witness the beginnings of such a fundamental project. For me, it is the crowning achievement of a personal journey that began over fifty years ago and whose purpose has always been to improve the technology used in wire rod production, this being the first step in the industrial value chain of all power cables.”
Christopher Guérin, CEO of Nexans adds, “Recycling preserves biodiversity. 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. 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.” www.properzi.com