Aurubis AG, a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the world’s largest copper recyclers, is focusing on strategic metals. One area of focus is North America, where Aurubis launched the first multi-metal recycling plant in the United States in Richmond at the end of September.
Aurubis CEO Dr. Toralf Haag presented the revised corporate strategy at the Capital Market Day in London. “On the back of megatrends driving our business, we are ideally positioned to power the world with sustainable metals. With our revised strategy, we will strengthen our position as a leading copper and multimetal producer”, Haag says. The company is focusing on expanding their strong market presence while continuing to set industry standards in processing complex raw materials, metal recovery, technological leadership, sustainability and operational excellence.”
Positioned for focused growth in the decade of metals
Aurubis stands at the epicenter of a structural surge in demand for copper and multimetal, says CEO Haag. The global appetite for metals is accelerating, driven by disruptive technological advancements through electrification, AI and advanced tech, and the modernization of energy infrastructure as well as geopolitical shifts including a changing security architecture. Aurubis’ smelter network, recycling expertise, and ability to process complex raw materials give it a unique role in meeting these structural needs.
According to the company, Aurubis is one of the very few companies worldwide capable of recovering 20 different metals and elements from a wide range of primary and secondary raw materials. Its integrated smelter network across Europe and the US allows for scale, flexibility and operational resilience. With its revised strategy, Aurubis will further strengthen its position as a global leader in processing copper and other metals.
After a phase of strong investment-driven growth, Aurubis is shifting its focus to delivering impact from its investments and smart, targeted growth that creates value and aligns with its core strengths, Aurubis says. The company has outlined a number of initiatives to further expand its commercial reach and service level to access new material streams and strengthen existing ones while doubling down on securing product competitiveness to maximize profitability. ##According to the company, Aurubis is also boosting its position as a leading global multimetal provider by maximizing its technical expertise and optimizing its smelter portfolio. A focus on operational excellence will allow Aurubis to create more efficient material flows, alleviate system bottlenecks, and draw on internal expertise in processing low-grade material to maximize its multimetal yields and process more complex intermediates in-house. With an emphasis on strengthening the Group’s resilience and profitability, Aurubis expects to consistently grow its earnings and cash flow generation.
Growth focus North America- technology from SMS group
“Our timely entry into the US market and our unique set of capabilities coupled with a supportive funding environment are a strong foundation for further growth in one of the most attractive metal markets in the world”, says CEO Toralf Haag. Aurubis presented an update on its US expansion, with the start of production at the new, first of-its-kind multimetal recycling facility in the state of Georgia marking a major milestone. At around €740 million, Aurubis Richmond is the company’s largest investment outside Europe, significantly increasing recycling capacity and securing Aurubis’ strong position in one of the most attractive global metals markets, complementing its strong global footprint.
According to the company, Aurubis Richmond is designed to meet the surging demand for sustainable metal supply in North America, driven by infrastructure investment, supportive industrial policy, and the growing need for resource security. Together with future options under consideration, the site gives Aurubis a powerful platform for further growth in the region.
The recycling plants built by the SMS group are already the second plant module for the Aurubis plant in the US. The core technology, the top-blown rotary converter (TBRC), is state-of-the-art equipment used for processing complex recycling materials so that raw materials like copper, nickel, tin, precious metals and platinum group metals can be recovered in additional downstream stages. These metals are crucial raw materials for the technologies of the future, whether for the energy transition, sustainable mobility, or digitalization.
Aurubis CEO Haag says: “The commissioning of our facility in Richmond marks a milestone in Aurubis’ growth journey. We are first movers and have built the first greenfield smelter in the US in over a century. Our timely entry into the US market and our unique set of capabilities coupled with a supportive funding environment are a strong foundation for further growth in one of the most attractive metal markets in the world.”
Source: Aurubis
