Aurubis boosts competitive edge at site in Stolberg

Aurubis, a leading global multimetal producer and one of the world’s largest copper recyclers, is making its copper rolling mill in Stolberg, located in Germany’s Rhineland, more competitive. The company invested a total of about € 16 million in two new key pieces of strip production equipment, commissioning a bell annealing furnace and an additional stretch bend leveler.

“The investments strengthen the site’s future. At the same time, they are a clear commitment to our plant in Stolberg,” Tim Kurth, Chief Operations Officer (COO) Custom Smelting and Products, emphasized. The new Aurubis Executive Board member has overseen Aurubis’ Flat Rolled Products (FRP) sites since September 1. “In alignment with our ‘Tomorrow Metals’ sustainability pledge, we’re not just increasing our production capacity, but also significantly improving our energy balance at the site. Because we’re reducing direct emissions — with continued high quality and delivery reliability.”

“The ramp-up of these important core units of our strip production is another milestone for our site three years after the severe flooding in the region,” Dr. Benjamin Cappi, Managing Director of Aurubis Stolberg, said. “We’re strengthening our reliability and our process security. The units have already been smoothly integrated into our day-to-day production. A big thank you to everyone involved!”  

Expansion of strip production capacity

The new stretch bend leveler amounting to about € 7 million provides growth options in the fabrication line for 600 mm wide strip. Stretch bend leveling is a process step in strip production that improves the flatness of the strip after rolling and reduces internal stresses in the material before it is slit to the desired widths. The new machine significantly increases the production capacity of the manufacturing line for strip of this width by enabling more efficient, flexible fabrication with the same high, dependable quality of the final products. Furthermore, the stretch bend leveler sets new benchmarks in occupational health and safety in system operation.

Enhanced energy efficiency at the site 

With the ‘Tomorrow Metals’ sustainability pledge, the company is underlining its aspiration of combining modern metal production with high environmental compatibility. To that end, the multimetal company is implementing a number of decarbonization projects and plans in its international smelter and production network. At the same time, Aurubis is steadily improving its energy balance — by using alternative energy sources, for example. The new bell annealing furnace at Aurubis Stolberg, a replacement investment valued at around € 9 million, contributes to this as well: It is now operated with electricity instead of natural gas. The higher efficiency of this furnace saves approximately 20 % of the energy used and lowers CO2 emissions (Scope 1) directly caused by the site by about 25 %.

In addition to rolling, stretch bend leveling, and slitting, annealing is another essential process step of strip fabrication that considerably impacts the material properties. The new bell annealing furnace also serves as a redundant facility for an existing furnace for large strip 2,000 mm in diameter and therefore improves process security at the site as well. 

About Aurubis Stolberg

Aurubis Stolberg has about 400 employees and produces high-precision strip and wire made of copper and copper alloys, with an expansive international sales network.