Nexans signs a strategic investment agreement in France to increase its copper production and recycling capacity across Europe

• Nexans is to invest over €90 million in the development of an innovative plant at its Lens site by 2026
• Nexans’ strategic supplier for this investment is Continuus Properzi, a specialist in continuous casting, rolling and smelting technologies for copper and aluminum
• With a production capacity increased by over 50%, the future Lens plant will be able to recycle up to 80,000 metric tons of copper per year
• Nexans is reaffirming its capacity to plan for any shortages of copper, a metal essential to global sustainable electrification, while also consolidating its industrial base in France

Paris, October 22, 2024 – Nexans, a global leader in electrification, has announced a major industrial partnership agreement with Continuus Properzi, a specialist in continuous casting technologies, to build an innovative copper production and recycling plant at the Nexans site in Lens, northern France, for 2026.

Global demand for copper is continuing to increase and recycling is emerging as a key solution to possible shortages of this metal, which is essential to electrification. Nexans is taking steps to address this major challenge with a project on a unique scale. 

This strategic decision is based on the operational expertise of the Nexans site, founded in 1971 in the industrial center of Lens, and the technological expertise of Continuus Properzi, a supplier of complete installations for the production of ETP (Electrolytic Tough Pitch) and FRHC (Fire Refined High Conductivity) wire rod. The objective is to continuously produce wire rod from recycled copper, through a state-of-the-art refining method using up to 100% of recycled metal, while optimizing water and energy consumption.

The Lens plant is the only copper rod foundry in France

With this investment of over €90 million, it will increase its wire rod production capacity by over 50%, and boost its copper scrap recycling capacity to manage up to 80,000 metric tons per year. Nexans is already actively involved in cable recycling through Recycâbles, a joint venture set up with Suez in 2008. With this new initiative, the Group has become a key player in the circular economy of the European copper industry. Implemented for the first time in France, this process will help to create a circular model by collecting waste from different sectors of industry across France and reusing it virtuously for new finished products.

As the leading global player in this sector with its own copper foundries[1], Nexans is vertically integrated. The Group is entirely self-sufficient in terms of the copper supplies required for its entire cable production value chain. This key strategic advantage will be consolidated by the new plant, which will allow the Group to recycle more cables from construction sites or “urban mines”.

Nexans' ambition is to adapt the life cycle of its products, reducing their carbon content, while also decreasing the carbon footprint of the cable industry as a whole. This investment is also part of the Group’s efforts to raise the proportion of recycled copper in its cables to 30% by 2030.

The new site further consolidates Nexans’ presence in Lens, increasing the number of jobs while creating a new working environment for staff. This project is part of France 2030, the investment plan for France. It is also in line with the company’s E3 performance model, bringing together Economic performance, the Environment and employee Engagement.

[1] Cathodes and copper scrap are processed at four foundries, in France (Lens site), Canada, Peru and Chile.