Contrisson, October 9, 2025 – ArcelorMittal has inaugurated its Helioroof® production line in Contrisson, France, introducing an innovative roofing product that combines steel roofing panels, thermal insulation, and solar cells while also delivering significantly lower carbon emissions compared with conventional products.

Ready-to-install and all-in-one, Helioroof® modules are custom-made, up to 12 metres in length, with an energy output of up to 2.1 kWp (kilowatt peak) per module—a world record in both size and power.

A low-carbon solution for renewable energy

Helioroof® reflects ArcelorMittal Building Solutions’ commitment to sustainable construction. Material-efficient, Helioroof® weighs half as much as a traditional roof with added solar panels, and has a carbon footprint that is 25% lower than traditional insulated steel roofs.

ArcelorMittal Building Solutions uses ArcelorMittal steel, including ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel. Between two steel sheets, the sandwich panel includes a layer which provides thermal insulation, while the top steel sheet directly integrates solar cells. All these components are assembled at the Contrisson site.

Driven by ArcelorMittal’s European expertise, manufactured in France

ArcelorMittal brought together its top expertise to develop and industrialise Helioroof®, relying on the R&D teams of ArcelorMittal Building Solutions and its partner CRM Group (Belgium), a leading research centre specialising in metallic materials and industrial innovation.

The industrial equipment was custom-designed for the Contrisson plant: a highly automated production line where quality is monitored at every stage, with extremely high standards. ArcelorMittal Building Solutions teams have developed and applied specific expertise from the solar industry for Helioroof®, including working in a 'grey room' environment to ensure the integrity of the solar cells.

Helioroof® and its production process are protected by 15 patents filed by ArcelorMittal. The culmination of 5 years’ work, Helioroof is an innovative solution designed and produced in Europe, to meet the sustainability and performance demands of the European market.

Speaking at the inauguration event in Contrisson today, Jean-Christophe Kennel, CEO ArcelorMittal Building Solutions, said:

“Today is a proud moment for all the people involved in the creation and production of Helioroof®. We have created a unique product that is already being used by customers here in France and across Europe. These customers were the first to recognise the advantages of using Helioroof® - with a carbon footprint that is more than a third lower than standard products, faster installation times, while also being cost competitive on a project basis. I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in bringing this fantastic product to market”.

Production of Helioroof® has started

Commercial production of Helioroof® has now begun; the first customers’ projects deploying the solution account for a total 1,500 square metres of Helioroof®, including:

  • An urban brewery in Liège (Belgium)
  • Two industrial halls for metal construction companies in the Haut-Rhin and Meuse regions (France)
  • A family house built by a low-energy building expert in the Marne region (France)

The Contrisson plant may expand further depending on market demand.

About Helioroof®

Helioroof® is part of the Helexio® Line project, which is supported by the Innovation Fund. The Fund is one of the world’s largest funding programmes for the deployment of innovative net-zero technologies, helping Europe reach its climate neutrality goals. The Helexio® Line project was awarded a grant under one of the first Innovation Fund calls in 2020, receiving funding sourced by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System.

Helioroof® won the 2024 Smarter E AWARD in the Photovoltaics category at the Intersolar 2024 trade fair. It is also, alongside other ArcelorMittal products, a candidate for the 2025 “Grande Exposition du Fabriqué en France,” to be held at the Élysée Palace in November.

The Contrisson site is operated by ArcelorMittal Building Solutions, the ArcelorMittal entity dedicated to steel products for the building market: roofs, façades, walls, floors, and balconies. Innovative and custom-made solutions that inspire architects and contractors to design ingenious and aesthetic constructions for high-performance, sustainable, and attractive buildings.