Noise-reducing engine silencer made from decarbonized SSAB Zero™ steel

Photo: Esa Siltaloppi
 

SSAB supplied JTK with approximately four tonnes of SSAB Zero™ steel produced using fossil-free energy and recycled steel.

SSAB Zero™ steel, manufactured in an electric arc furnace from recycled steel, reduces the steel’s CO₂ equivalent emissions by up to 77% compared to SSAB’s blast furnace-produced hot-rolled steel. This material choice cuts the emissions of JTK’s silencer by nearly half compared to a traditional silencer, explains JTK Power Managing Director Robert Ollus.

JTK Power manufactures steel solutions for power plants, construction, and the marine and process industries worldwide. The company specializes in silencers for both power plants and marine engines.

“In our core business, the primary goal is reducing noise emissions. Silencers play a key role, especially in power plants, which are often built near residential areas to improve energy transmission efficiency. Noise control is therefore strategically critical. Reducing carbon emissions adds another important dimension,” Ollus emphasizes.

Lowering CO₂ emissions through collaboration

JTK Power’s direct emissions and those from purchased and consumed energy are small compared to the emissions from the steel used in its products. This means the company’s ability to reduce its carbon footprint depends on cooperation with material suppliers like SSAB. Manufacturing a low-emission silencer from SSAB Zero™ steel has been a significant step, Ollus notes.

The idea of a low-emission silencer for a ship engine emerged when SSAB and JTK explored practical applications for decarbonized steel. The SSAB Zero™-based steel used in the silencer project is weather-resistant SSAB Weathering steel, delivered as four-millimeter-thick sheets cut from coils.

In terms of technical properties, SSAB Zero™ performs exactly like conventional steel: it was cut, bent, and welded in JTK’s production process as usual.

SSAB Zero™ steel is currently sourced from SSAB’s US plant. “SSAB’s electric arc furnace in Oxelösund will be completed by the end of 2026, enabling SSAB Zero™ steel production in Sweden and further development of the product range,” says Erkki Krankkala, Technical Development Manager at SSAB. This will shorten delivery times and increase capacity.

Potential for SSAB Zero™ steel in the marine industry

The newly manufactured low-emission silencer will sail the seas in spring 2026. According to both parties, the project outcome is not only technically successful but also commercially significant, as there is great potential to expand low-emission solutions in shipping.

JTK Power aims to halve its own emissions by 2030—a goal Ollus considers fully achievable. The biggest challenge lies in indirect scope 3 emissions in the value chain, where the target is a reduction of about 20%.

“Achieving this depends directly on how willing customers are to switch to decarbonized SSAB Zero™ steel,” Ollus says.

Materials produced with less environmental impact are often more expensive than traditional alternatives, but low emissions and a smaller carbon footprint can also bring financial benefits. Ollus cites port charges determined by emissions and certifications as an example: ships with a smaller carbon footprint pay lower port charges.

Timo Risku, Regional Sales Manager at SSAB Europe, commends JTK’s open and forward-thinking attitude, which made this ambitious pilot possible.
“The silencer project was a great way to start with a concrete, single product. The collaboration was smooth, and our shared commitment led to a successful result,” Risku concludes.