Aurubis officially celebrated the launch of the refurbished tankhouse for copper production at its recycling plant in Lünen, Germany. The modernized facility is set to increase production capacity by around 10%, enabling the production of up to 210,000 tons of copper cathodes annually. A €60 million investment was made to future-proof the tankhouse, ensuring the long-term success of the recycling site. This upgrade also allows for the processing of other metals, such as gold, tin, and nickel, alongside copper.
“Global demand for raw materials is on the rise. As the largest multimetal recycling site in Europe, Lünen is a cornerstone of the circular economy. We’re delivering more responsibly produced metals to the market with our modernized tankhouse — for a successful energy transition, while strengthening and securing our core business at the same time,” said Inge Hofkens, COO of Multimetal Recycling at Aurubis AG.
Construction on the tankhouse began in October 2020 and was completed on schedule. The upgrades included a complete refurbishment of the tankhouse basins, infrastructure improvements like a renovated roof, and investments in further automation, including state-of-the-art robot technology.
“I am particularly proud of the fact that we were able to keep the facility running reliably at 80% while construction was ongoing. A great achievement by the whole team! Aurubis is advancing its pioneering role in recycling by investing in renovating the tankhouse,” said Verena von Weiss, Lünen Plant Manager.
“This significant investment of €60 million is a clear signal of Aurubis’ commitment to the Lünen recycling site, to strong and efficient industry, to protecting the climate, and to safeguarding jobs and apprenticeships. Modern and responsible industrial companies like Aurubis are the foundation of our region’s prosperity,” said Lünen Mayor Jürgen Kleine-Frauns.
The tankhouse represents the final step in the copper refining process. Copper anodes, weighing about 400 kg with a copper content of up to 98%, are electrochemically dissolved. The copper ions are deposited on stainless steel plates, resulting in 99.99% pure copper for optimal conductivity in downstream applications. Other substances in the anode, such as precious metals, precipitate out during electrolysis and are separated and refined in the Aurubis Group network.
