PLANTILLA PARA EPD DE PRODUCTOS DE ACERO

The system boundaries, according to PSR 2002:1 “Steel Products” document,determine which processes are included in the present declaration. In this document weconsider each of the processes to which the chain is submitted from the collection of theraw material to the end of the product’s working life (from the womb to the tomb).However, the scope of the study we have made estimates for those external phaseswhich warrant such attention.Chain manufacturing process1. Steel maker supplier:The life-cycle begins with the production of the steel bars at the steel manufacturer’splants, which are located in Basauri, Azkoitia and Reinosa, northern Spain. At theseplants, starting from selected scrap metals the steel alloy, through a process of electricsteel making plant, is produced to the “recipe” specified by Vicinay Cadenas. Finally thesteel bar is packaged and transported by (diesel) lorries, belonging to the steelmanufacturer, to the chain manufacturing plant in Bilbao.2. Manufacture:When the steel bars arrive at the plant these bars are classified and stored in metallicpallets in the reception area. When needed they are taken, by crane (electricconsumption) to a conveyor system which takes the steel bars to the cutting process,where each bar is cut to the required length.Any left-overs after the cutting process, which are minimized inpurchase order, usually between 2% and 5% of the total massare managed as revalued waste (scrap metal).After cutting, the “lengths” are transported to the manufacturingworkshop, where they undergo five operations, in a merry-goroundconfiguration (carousel): 1. Pre-heating (in the case ofthe large chain this heating takes place in an oven powered bynatural gas. In the case of the light chain it takes place in anelectric oven).9/25