Aurubis Hamburg Completes Major Maintenance Shutdown
Aurubis AG has successfully concluded the largest maintenance shutdown in its history at the Hamburg plant. The extensive project involved 500 maintenance and modernization tasks, including the installation of hydrogen-ready anode furnaces and the expansion of carbon-free industrial heat, with an investment of nearly €250 million.
During this shutdown, significant upgrades were made to enhance plant efficiency and environmental sustainability. Key activities included inspecting the waste heat boiler, overhauling the flash smelter, and installing heat exchangers in the contact acid plant. These improvements are expected to bolster the plant’s performance and environmental protection measures.
Aurubis also introduced automation in copper production with the installation of a tap hold drill and tamping machine, which will improve safety by automating slag tapping. The entire project engaged approximately 2,000 people, including 1,500 workers from partner companies.
Markus Kramer, Aurubis Chief Transformation Officer, praised the project’s quality and emphasized the importance of occupational health and safety during the shutdown. Hamburg Aurubis Plant Manager Michael Jordan commended the team for their efforts and confirmed that production will now safely and reliably resume.
Additionally, the company made strategic investments to advance its sustainability goals. The hydrogen-ready anode furnaces can now use hydrogen fuel, eliminating carbon dioxide emissions and marking a significant step towards carbon-neutral production. This €40 million investment is expected to prevent at least 5,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
Aurubis also invested €100 million to expand the supply of carbon-free industrial heat to Hamburg’s district heating network. This project, now capable of heating up to 28,000 households, is the largest industrial heat project in Germany and aims to reduce up to 120,000 tons of CO2 emissions in Hamburg each year.
