Aurubis continues expanding Hamburg multimetal hub: Investment in safer, highly efficient processing of valuable intermediates

Aurubis AG, a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and the largest copper recycler worldwide, is building a new facility to more efficiently pre-process metal-bearing intermediates through automated separation, sorting and sampling at the Hamburg site. The facility will be another milestone for processing complex raw material flows more safely and with even more precision in the future.

The investment project was approved last week, clearing the path for continued expansion of the multimetal expertise at the company’s largest production site. The facility is scheduled for commissioning in late 2028. The investment will enhance the distinction between different metal phases, improve their valuation, and optimize material and process control. This will contribute to the site’s future earnings while setting the stage for additional potential investments in the smelter network.

Hamburg continues developing its multimetal expertise

Following the successful commissioning of Complex Recycling Hamburg (CRH) in July 2026, a globally one-of-a-kind system for recycling strategic metals, Aurubis is continuing the site’s development into a state-of-the-art hub for processing complex raw materials, recycling materials, and metallurgical intermediates. The new facility will complement existing production and recycling processes and boost the company’s capability to manage and process valuable metals even more efficiently within its own smelter network.

Automation boosts safety and efficiency in processing complex materials

The new facility will pre-process and sort copper and precious metals-bearing materials into defined grain sizes. Modern sensor and x-ray technologies will separate the various material components with much more precision. This lays the foundation for representative sampling, and thus more reliable valuation of the metal contents. The intermediates can be directed to downstream processes more strategically as a result, making metal extraction more efficient. The new facility will also take over a great deal of this strenuous physical work in the future, significantly improving both efficiency and safety in this area.

“For Hamburg, the investment project is much more than a technical expansion. The new facility increases safety, improves our understanding of complex material flows, and helps us process valuable raw materials more efficiently. Together with projects like CRH, it fortifies the Hamburg site’s role as the central multimetal hub within the Aurubis network and drives modernization of the plant,” Aurubis Hamburg Plant Manager Dimo Kirilov stated.

Contributing to environmental protection: Further reduction in direct and diffuse dust emissions

The new facility will be constructed in a closed building with modern filtration, extraction and sorting technology. This enhances control in processing material streams, reduces dust-intensive work stages, and further improves working conditions. The new facility comprises a two-stage pre-processing and sorting installation with sensor and x-ray technology, automated material pre-processing systems, and the related infrastructure including a production hall, a filter system, extraction technology, a substation, and cranes