Press release - Aurubis Lünen: Leading-edge plant now producing high-purity oxygen in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Photo Info
- Download
- One additional media item
One document
Aurubis Lünen: Leading-edge plant now producing high-purity oxygen in North Rhine-Westphalia
- NRW Minister Ina Scharrenbach attends commissioning ceremony for modern air separation unit
- Around €40 million invested in modern oxygen and nitrogen generation equipment
- Up to 8,500 t of CO2 avoided: A boost for environmentally friendly metal production
Lünen, February 24, 2026 — Aurubis AG, a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide, marked the commissioning of a new air separation unit (ASU) at its Lünen recycling site today. Ina Scharrenbach, Minister for Regional Identity, Local Government, Building and Digitalization of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, joined the multimetal producer for the inauguration of its innovative plant.
Aurubis is enhancing Lünen production process efficiency and independence from external supply chains with this around €40 million investment, strengthening supply security for strategically critical metals for international industrial enterprises. Messer, the largest privately-owned global specialist in industrial, medical, electronic and specialty gases, worked with Aurubis on planning and building the unit now starting on-site operations on the Lünen plant premises.
Aurubis is leveraging leading-edge technology with the new ASU: Air separation units are in successful operation at other large Aurubis sites, such as in Hamburg, Germany and in Pirdop, Bulgaria. They use atmospheric air to generate oxygen and nitrogen, securing the supply of these essential industrial gases for all metallurgical processes at the Aurubis Lünen plant in the future. Oxygen is used in copper production furnaces — starting in the bath smelting furnace, the converter, and tin-alloy furnace through to the anode furnace and other downstream processes and ancillary equipment. Nitrogen is used throughout the entire process chain, including for purging and in filter systems.
On-site production offers a number of advantages. The ASU supplies oxygen of almost 100 % purity, high-grade oxygen that supports an efficient and stable copper production process.
On-site production allows the plant to immediately eliminate regular deliveries of liquid oxygen in large tanks, cutting up to 3,000 truck runs annually and avoiding the energy-intensive reconversion of liquid oxygen back into gas. Reduced truck traffic translates into fewer emissions — the new ASU helps Aurubis prevent up to 8,500 t of CO2 emissions (Scope 3) every year.
“The new air separation unit is a core building block in securing the future readiness of our recycling site in Lünen,” says Inge Hofkens, COO Multimetal Recycling at Aurubis AG. “It enhances our supply security, ups the efficiency of our processes, and delivers measurable benefits for climate protection. Lünen is a cornerstone of our international smelter network and plays a vital role in supplying industry with strategically important metals from recycling streams.”
The ASU represents a significant advancement for the site. “The captive production of highly pure oxygen and nitrogen enables us to significantly improve our day-to-day production,” explains Verena von Weiss, Aurubis Lünen Plant Manager. “We can control our processes with greater precision and independence. As a modern industrial company, we are reducing emissions and future-proofing the site for the long term. We are also sending a powerful message for Lünen and the region as a reliable employer.”
Technology partner Messer highlighted the positive collaboration: “From the outset, our close partnership with Aurubis has been guided by our shared vision for sustainable production, supply security, and efficiency,” says Virginia Esly, Chief Operating Officer Europe of Messer. “By generating industrial gases exactly where our customers need them in the production process, we have enhanced Aurubis’ competitiveness and the long-term viability at the Lünen site. We are active in 25 countries across Europe and operate over 100 units to provide our customers and industry partners with innovative and efficient products and solutions. Our mission is clear: to be a dependable partner, lead in technology, and shape the future together with our customers.”
The successful commissioning of the new air separation unit marks another step for Aurubis along its path toward becoming the most sustainable and efficient smelter network in the world. Already one of Europe’s largest multimetal recycling centers, the Lünen site is gaining additional strength and will continue to play a central role in the circular economy and in ensuring a secure supply of strategic metals for industry in Germany and Europe.
Aurubis AG
Tore Prang Vice President Corporate Communications & External Affairs Mobile: +49 176 178 421 65
Christoph Tesch Head of Corporate Communication Phone:+49 40 7883 2178 Mobile: +49 172 438 238 8
Meino Hauschildt Senior Manager Corporate Communication Spokesperson Phone: +49 40 7883 3037 Mobile: +49 172 3290 621
