German-based company Fischer Profil specialises in the manufacture of building elements for roof and wall constructions.
Managing Director Gordon Brede discussed the company’s mission to offer the construction sector more climate-friendly solutions. Report by Antonia Cole.
Fischer Profil is driven by sustainability, Managing Director Gordon Brede said: “As part of Tata Steel, we design sustainablel system solutions for green roofs, façades and solar power, as well as aiming to be carbon neutral by 2034.”
As a leading manufacturer of building components in Europe, Fischer Profil offers a broad portfolio of products. From steel trapezoidal profiles and sandwich elements to cassette profiles, the company provides flexible, economical and sustainable solutions to clients.
With over 220 employees in Netphen-Deuz, Siegerland, Fischer Profil uses 70,000 tonnes of steel per year, producing 40,000 tonnes of profiles and 2.5 million square metres of composite panels.
Founded in 1938 as a sheet metal processing plant, Fischer Profil became part of Tata Steel in 2007 and is now a market pioneer of the building envelope sector. Tata Steel
supplies high-quality steel products for the most demanding markets, such as construction, automotive, packaging and mechanical engineering. In 2022, Fischer Profil produced its first order FischerTHERM ICO2N® with Zeremis® Carbon Lite, CO2-reduced steel from Tata Steel Netherlands, a significant progression in the long-term goal to make construction sustainable.
Zeremis® Carbon Lite is steel with an allocated carbon footprint reduction of up to 90%, depending on the specific product. This is the maximum reduction for the sum of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. For Scope 1 and 2 emissions, this represents a 100% reduction. The lower CO2 intensity of Zeremis Carbon Lite is based on CO2 savings realised within Tata Steel Netherlands and is assured by independent assurance expert DNV.
“We take our responsibility for effective climate protection seriously,” added Mr Brede. “The company has a clear path to achieve
carbon neutrality. Our sustainable systems help customers to achieve their environmental goals too. We aim to make the industry more efficient through our innovative and effective solutions.”
Zero carbon emission journey
By 2034, Fischer Profil intends for its production site to be completely carbon neutral through sustainable investments into facilities and circular solutions for customers. By upgrading and refurbishing machinery, Fischer Profil will operate with improved capacity and become more energy-efficient and sustainable.
Additionally, the company is adding solar panels to the roof of its site and increasing the amount, and quality, of insulation. This will reduce the amount of energy required to
heat the building, as well as Fischer Profil’s reliance on main grid energy supply.
“To reach our sustainability target, we will first improve our own operation and limit our environmental impact,” explained Mr Brede. “Having identified areas we can make more environmentally friendly, we are taking action to make changes to significantly minimise our carbon footprint.”
Fischer Profil is exploring using hydrogen powered trucks, to substantially reduce the number of harmful pollutants produced in transportation. This extends the company’s environmental awareness to outside of the facility itself, highlighting its dedication to sustainability.
Additionally, the company offers different circular products and services such as take-back service to clients. Once panels
reach their end of life, Fischer Profil reclaims and recycles them. Currently the company is undergoing pilot projects to develop this system, but once it is fully operational, it will provide massive sustainable benefits to both Fischer Profil and customers.
“We are always implementing new initiatives like this,” continued Mr Brede. “At Fischer Profil, we understand that becoming sustainable is a continuous journey. As new innovations become available to the industry, we strive to implement them into our operations and further limit our impact.”
Green construction solutions
Fischer Profil helps customers to limit their impact through sustainable products, such as solar and green roof solutions. Also, the use of carbon-reduced steel directly improves the environmental footprint of a building,
offering a simple alternative for clients aiming to be more sustainable.
The FischerTHERM Carrier D® GreenBox is a green roof solution, optimised for sandwich roof panels. The product comes in both pre-planted and unfilled varieties, with the pre-planted version including 16 different Sedum plants from the company Plantile. The system facilitates water retention and runoff delay, as the vegetation absorbs most of any rainwater.
“The green roof acts as a buffer during heavy rainfall, with a water retention of 20 to 65 litres per square metre,” commented Mr Brede. “Rainwater runoff volumes can be reduced by 40 per cent and there are many other environmental benefits to green roofs.
Evaporation from the system improves the microclimate and cools roof surfaces. Then, the greenery itself converts carbon dioxide into oxygen and provides a habitat for insects and small animals, as well as being a design feature of the building.”
Another innovative product is the FischerTHERM ICON2N® sandwich elements, made from carbon-reduced steel with a CO2 reduction of up to 90%.
In order to assess the influence of CO2-reduced building components at the building level, Fischer Profil launched a development project last year with RWTH Aachen University
in which various construction methods were analysed and tested for their CO2 impact. The insights gained are shared with interested stakeholders in regular presentations at the Fischer Academy. In the coming year, open questions will be investigated in a project based on the results and will again be made available to a wide audience at the Fischer Academy.
However, the design of these construction elements also improves the efficiency of a building.
“They feature a Fischer DUO seal, the ‘Energy Saver’, to ensure joint tightness and
an EPDM energy saver works to reduce the energy consumption of a building by 10 per cent,” said Mr Brede. “These products position us within the market as leaders of sustainable innovation. As the industry transitions to create a more environmentally friendly future, we are prepared to support our customers.”
Sustainable expansion
As a company, Fischer Profil builds up strategic partnerships in order to develop innovative designs and solutions. When creating a product, the company first identifies a customer need, before working with suppliers to resolve it.
“We integrate our partners and clients into our product development system, which is really important,” explained Mr Brede. “Then, we also recognise how essential it is to build up long-term relationships on top of this. Once we have a supplier whose goals align with our own, we stick with them. This loyalty is
what fosters trust and facilitates growth into the future.”
Going forward, Fischer Profil will continue to focus on sustainability and creating environmentally friendly construction solutions. The company will invest into R&D to broaden its selection of innovative products. Additionally, Fischer Profil hopes to expand market presence internationally and have a greater impact on the sector as a whole.
“The industry is changing, and it’s really exciting to watch,” added Mr Brede, in conclusion. “With the introduction of the European Green Deal, I expect the construction industry to undergo a complete transformation. To be a part of this change really motivates me. At Fischer Profil we are already working towards the future with our sustainable innovations, but I am looking forward to seeing more people getting involved and utilising environmental solutions like ours. n
