Environmental protection at Deutsche Giessdraht GmbH

Deutsche Giessdraht GmbH produces high-quality copper wire rod. Founded in 1975, the company is based in Emmerich am Rhein, with excellent connections to shipping and the road and rail networks. Aurubis AG has held 100% of the shares in Deutsche Giessdraht GmbH since 2018.

The 115 employees at DG produce up to 300,000 t of wire rod every year. The production process consists of melting, casting, rolling, pickling and winding the copper. The wire production facilities are state of the art and fulfil all product quality, environmental protection and efficient use of energy requirements.

The exhaust gas from the melting furnace is cleaned in a modern filter system, which ensures that the limit values are safely adhered to. The copper removal system integrated into production ensures that the wire cooling water is treated using the state-of-the-art technology and that the monitoring values for copper in the cooling water fall safely below the limit.

In recent years, we have invested in a number of project to continuously modernize our plant. Today, an international comparison of wire rod plants has shown that Deutsche Giessdraht GmbH is very well positioned when it comes to energy efficiency. Introduced in 2012, the energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 is a valuable aid in securing and further improving the level achieved. We consistently prevent waste and look for new recycling options to improve our waste balance further. This ensures that the company will continue to completely fulfil its ecological and economic responsibilities in the future as well.

The site has also successfully implemented an environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 and an energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 and was successfully recertified in 2021.

Environmental protection Deutsche Giessdraht – facts & figures

Water usage development

Water is mainly used for cooling. Cooling water withdrawal is constantly adjusted to meet current consumption. Starting in 2007, various-speed pumps wand an intelligent pump management system were commissioned, which has sustainably reduced specific water consumption by 15 to 20 %.

Water utilisation in m³/t of wire rod produced

Specific energy consumption development

Electricity is mainly consumed by the rolling mill, as well as by drives for pumps, compressors, blowers, lighting, etc. Thanks to the extensive modernization of components and the strict use of energy-efficient drive systems, it has been possible to reduce specific electricity consumption from 75 to 34 kWh/t of wire output since 2005 (a more than 50 % reduction).