en.Wedoany.com Reported - Aurubis has completed construction and held a ceremony for its Complex Recycling Hamburg (CRH) plant, which integrates multiple smelting processes into a single unit capable of jointly processing materials containing copper, lead, and sulfur. This represents a key growth initiative under the company's "Aurubis Performance 2030" strategy. The project's construction period was approximately two and a half years.

Traditional smelting processes often require multiple independent steps to handle different metals or intermediate products, increasing material handling costs and energy consumption. The CRH plant completes the recovery of copper, lead, and precious metals, as well as sulfuric acid production, within a specially designed converter. Each batch can process approximately 45 tons, with furnace temperatures reaching up to 1,400°C. This design enables the plant to process an additional 30,000 tons of recycling materials and a larger volume of high-value smelting intermediates annually.

The total project investment amounts to €190 million, with approximately one-third allocated to air pollution control facilities, aiming to align with efficient and environmentally friendly multi-metal production goals. The plant features a high level of automation to improve staffing efficiency and enhance health and safety performance.

Aurubis expects the plant to deliver a positive financial contribution once fully operational, while retaining more materials and value within its own smelting network, thereby enhancing production resilience. The CRH plant has received EU funding under the EU Raw Materials Strategy, as well as an investment loan from the European Investment Bank, with these funds directly serving the objectives set out in the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.