How Siempelkamp Foundry lives sustainability
Tradition made of iron, future made of gold
A plant where components weighing tons are cast every day - and now honey is also produced? Siempelkamp Foundry shows how industrial value creation and nature can be in harmony. The establishment of bee colonies on the factory premises makes sustainability at the site tangible.APril
April 15, 2025
Siempelkamp Foundry, one of the world's largest hand-molding foundries, has been serving the sustainable transformation with its products for years: Whether electromobility, renewable energy generation or resource-saving material production - the components manufactured in the foundry contribute to greater sustainability in many key industries. The company is now increasingly focusing on its own site again and, together with a beekeeper from Krefeld, has today established several bee colonies on the factory premises. This measure is far more than a symbolic act - it shows how industrial production can be combined with ecological responsibility.
“For us, sustainability means more than just CO₂ reduction. It also includes protecting biodiversity and taking responsibility for our environment. By settling the bee colonies, we are sending a visible signal of sustainability in action, as it is understood in the German SME sector”
Dr. Georg Geier, Managing Director of Siempelkamp Foundry
High-quality honey through professional care
For the employees of Siempelkamp Foundry, the new coexistence with the bees not only enriches the working environment, but also means a concrete connection to their employer's commitment to the environment. The honey produced by the company's own bees is bottled under the name “Iron Gold” - a tribute to the industrial tradition and the location. Employees receive a jar of this special honey as part of the harvest - as a sweet sign of the shared commitment to sustainability.
Industry in harmony with nature
The bees on the foundry site make a valuable contribution to promoting biodiversity through their pollination activities. They ensure the ecological balance, support natural plant growth and thus indirectly contribute to CO₂ sequestration. In addition, bee colonies are increasingly seen as a symbol of sustainable economic practices - their well-being reflects the quality of the local habitat.
“For our customers, partners and neighbors, the bees' new home is also a strong sign that industrial production, environmental awareness and good living conditions for people and animals belong together.”
Dirk Howe, Managing Director of Siempelkamp Foundry
The initiative is part of a comprehensive sustainability strategy with which Siempelkamp Foundry has been setting standards in the industry for years. As early as 1996, the company was the first foundry in Germany to introduce an environmental management system - proof of its deeply rooted responsibility towards the environment and society. This was followed by continuous investment in energy efficiency, resource conservation and low-emission processes, which made the foundry a benchmark in the industry. Most recently, Siempelkamp Foundry joined the renowned Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), thereby placing its climate targets on a scientifically sound basis.
This tradition of progressive environmental responsibility is now being supplemented by another visible facet. Iron Gold” is not just a special honey - it is a strong symbol of an industry that is facing up to its responsibilities.
About the Siempelkamp Foundry
The Siempelkamp foundry in Krefeld specializes in the production of hand-formed large castings up to 320 tons of spheroidal graphite cast iron and, with a casting volume of over 60,000 tons per year and 400 employees, is one of the largest hand-mold foundries in the world. The comprehensive and customer-oriented service package in-cludes the supply of structural components for many innovative machine builders in the energy industry, the raw materials industry, press construction, steel production, automotive and many other areas of transformation.
G. Siempelkamp GmbH & Co. KG is a globally active group of companies with the business areas of mechanical and plant engineer-ing, casting technology as well as engineering and service. Nearly 3,000 employees worldwide ensure that the Siempelkamp Group is represented among the world's best with its technologies.