Aurubis upgrades shaft furnace at Avellino site to boost copper wire rod production 

Aurubis AG, a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the world’s largest copper recyclers, has successfully modernized its shaft furnace at the Avellino site, marking a significant step toward more efficient and sustainable copper wire rod production. 

Copper wire is a critical material for digital infrastructure like data centers, the energy transition, electrification and e-mobility. Aurubis invested approximately €5 million in improvements designed to enhance production capacity by nearly 20 %. The upgrade will contribute positively to the Aurubis Group’s operating profitability. 

The shaft furnace is at the heart of copper wire production in Avellino: Primarily copper cathodes and some very pure scrap are fed into the tall, vertical furnace from the top. As the materials move downward, they are preheated by hot gases rising from below before fully melting at the bottom. This design makes the furnace highly energy-efficient, allowing more material to be processed with lower energy consumption and a reduced CO₂ footprint. Aurubis is committed to expanding its leading role in sustainability in line with its Tomorrow Metals promise to business partners to stay best in class in all the sustainability challenges of today and the future through our metals. 

Bernardino Greco, Site Manager at Aurubis Avellino, said: “Modernizing the shaft furnace provides the foundation for more energy-efficient and future-ready production in Avellino. At the same time, it strengthens our market position and ensures the long-term supply of strategically important copper wire rod for our customers.” 

The modernization included a taller furnace shaft as well as a new furnace shell, updated refractory lining, an optimized charging system, and the groundwork for a future-ready burner and combustion setup. These measures create the basis for further decarbonization initiatives and energy solutions. 

“The upgrade of our Avellino plant is a major milestone in the history of the site, that makes us stronger. The significant investment demonstrates our commitment to make the important Italian rod plant future-proof. We are reinforcing our role as a reliable partner for the wire and cable industry, especially in Southern Europe and North Africa. The investment secures an advanced supply of copper wire, a key product for the major transformation trends, and plays a decisive role in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness,” emphasized Tim Kurth, Chief Operations Officer Custom Smelting and Products. 

For August 2026, Aurubis is planning a second phase of the upgrade with a new natural gas combustion system, that will increase energy efficiency and lowering specific gas consumption by up to 10 %. The full capacity increase will effect following the second phase.  

Avellino is an important part of the robust and sustainable network of the four Aurubis sites producing copper wire rod, allowing the company to reliably supply customers at all times.  

At the same time, Aurubis is the first company in Italy to begin the process of obtaining The Copper Mark certification for its Avellino site. The Copper Mark is an internationally renowned and independent assurance framework to promote responsible practices across the copper value chain.