Leading global selenium producer RETORTE secures growth in future markets with new facility 

RETORTE GmbH, global market leader in the specialized market for high-purity selenium products and subsidiary of leading global multimetal manufacturer Aurubis AG, inaugurated a new selenium production facility today. The € 7 million for the highly automated facility marks the largest individual investment in the company’s history and expands capacities by about 20 %. RETORTE is establishing a technological landmark with the facility certified in accordance with good manufacturing practice (GMP) and will be able to supply sophisticated future markets in pharmaceuticals and food technology. 

“Selenium is an important material — indispensable in trace amounts but technologically demanding in its production. Our new facility demonstrates how we unite industrial efficiency, product purity, and sustainability in the Aurubis material cycle,” Aurubis AG COO Tim Kurth said. “RETORTE holds a crucial role, producing internationally in-demand specialty products from a co-product of our copper smelting.” 

The facility fulfills all GMP standards — a closed production cycle prevents impurities and guarantees the highest purity. For RETORTE Managing Director Steffan Huber, this is a milestone: “We are sustainably meeting the stringent standards of the health and wellness sectors while boosting our competitive edge at the same time. This secures our access to attractive future markets — in South America and Asia, for instance — and enables us to offer custom solutions internationally.” 

The new 700 m² building at the Röthenbach site includes expansion and storage space in addition to the core production area, as well as an advanced exhaust and filter system. This contributes to improved work safety and environmental protection. The new facility puts RETORTE in a position to tap the sub-markets for selenite and selenate — used as a trace element in many consumer goods including table salt, vitamin products, and immune sprays — even better.  

Röthenbach Mayor Klaus Hacker commended the project as a forward-looking investment: “With this innovative infrastructure, RETORTE strengthens its own position but also the significance of our hub in the international competitive landscape for technology. We are especially pleased about the involvement of regional partners — a clear commitment to creating added value locally.”