Aurubis AG, a global provider of nonferrous metals and a large copper recycler, marked the inauguration of a globally unique plant at its Hamburg site today. The new facility will enable the company to process greater volumes of increasingly complex recycling materials and smelter intermediates in the future. The Complex Recycling Hamburg (CRH) facility integrates the capabilities of multiple smelting processes into a single unit. For the first time, raw materials containing copper, lead and sulfur can be processed in a single plant.
The US$217 million investment is expected to deliver a considerable positive financial contribution once fully ramped up. This makes CRH one of the most significant growth projects under the company’s current strategy, “Aurubis Performance 2030: Forging resilience. Leading in multimetal.”
Unlocking more value from complex materials
The new facility enables Aurubis to process attractive recycling materials for which there are only a limited number of buyers worldwide. CRH will allow the company to treat more than 30,000 additional tons of recycling material per year, as well as significantly larger volumes of high-value smelter intermediates with exceptional efficiency. This enhances Aurubis’ ability to recover important metals, such as copper, lead and precious metals, and to produce sulfuric acid – all indispensable for key industrial applications.
The objective of this process innovation is to keep more materials and value within the Aurubis smelter network, optimizing the utilization of existing assets and further enhancing production resilience. The new plant also strengthens Aurubis’ business model with its diversified earnings drivers.
Benchmark in technology, environmental protection, and automation
At the heart of the plant is a specially engineered converter that separates the individual elements. The unit processes batches of around 45 tons at temperatures of up to 1,400 degrees Celsius.
CRH is equipped with cutting-edge technology and sets a new benchmark in efficient, environmentally friendly multimetal production. Around a third of total investment went towards air pollution control measures, underscoring the plant’s high environmental standards. It is also highly automated, enabling very efficient staffing levels while ensuring best-in-class health and safety standards.
Key project for critical metals for Europe
The CRH project received funding from the European Union and directly contributes to advancing the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. Project financing was backed by the first investment loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under its comprehensive raw materials strategy. EIB vice president Nicola Beer said: “Securing critical raw materials such as copper and expanding recycling capacities in Europe are central to resilience, sustainable development, and Europe’s industrial competitiveness. The EIB loan to Aurubis reinforces European value chains and shows that we are taking quick and decisive action in alignment with the Critical Raw Materials Act.”
Published July 2026
