40 million euros for new air separation plant
Aurubis is building a new air separation plant in Lünen in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to its press release, the metal supplier will invest around 40 million euros in this recycling site. Air separation plants are already in operation at other large Aurubis sites, for example in Hamburg.
Increasing the efficiency of production operations
According to Aurubis, the investment will make local production operations more efficient and less dependent on external supplies. The planned plant on the site in Lünen will make a decisive contribution to the local production process, according to the Group.
Aurubis also explains that air is broken down into its main components, primarily oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), in the plant. According to the company, these two elements are very important for copper production. According to the metal supplier, the new separation plant will enable it to produce these two elements itself and directly on site in future.
According to the press release, the plant is scheduled for completion at the end of 2025. Aurubis is working with Messer Industriegase GmbH on the planning and construction of the plant. According to Aurubis, this company specializes in the construction of such plants.
Expansion of the recycling site
As Aurubis emphasizes in its press release, the Group is continuing to expand its recycling site in Germany. Inge Hofkens, COO and Executive Board member responsible for multi-metal recycling, says: "As one of the largest multi-metal recycling sites in Europe, Aurubis Lünen is a cornerstone of the circular economy. By building our own air separation plant, we are additionally securing the traditional site in North Rhine-Westphalia and strengthening our core business."
With regard to supply security, Verena von Weiss, Plant Manager at Aurubis Lünen, explains: "By producing oxygen and nitrogen directly here on site, we will be able to avoid price fluctuations and possible supply bottlenecks for these substances from external partners from 2026 onwards and therefore produce more reliably and efficiently."