Messer Group GmbH (Bad Soden, Germany) and multi-metal supplier Aurubis AG have successfully commissioned a new production plant for the extraction of air gases at Aurubis’ recycling site in Luenen, Germany. Aurubis AG is a leading global supplier of non-ferrous metals and one of the world’s largest copper recyclers.
The state-of-the-art air separation plant (ASU) is capable of producing up to 210 tons of oxygen and 16 tons of nitrogen per day. At the Aurubis site in Luenen, the air gases are used across all metallurgical processes. Oxygen is deployed in copper production in the furnaces – from the smelting furnace to the converter, the mixed tin furnace, the anode furnace, and all auxiliary furnaces. Nitrogen is used throughout the entire process chain for purging and in filtration systems.
“From the very beginning, our close and cooperative partnership with Aurubis has been characterized by a shared vision of sustainable production, security of supply, and efficiency,” says Virginia Esly, Chief Operating Officer Europe at Messer. “We produce industrial gases for our customers precisely where they are needed in the manufacturing process, thereby supporting Aurubis’ competitiveness and long-term success at its Luenen site. We are present in 25 countries across Europe and operate more than 100 plants to provide our customers and industry with innovative and efficient products and solutions. Our mission is clear: to be a reliable partner, a technological leader, and to shape the future together with our customers.”
“The new air separation plant is a key component for the future viability of our recycling site in Luenen,” says Inge Hofkens, COO Multimetal Recycling at Aurubis AG. “It strengthens our security of supply, increases the efficiency of our processes, and makes a measurable contribution to climate protection. Luenen is a cornerstone of our international smelting network and plays a crucial role in supplying the industry with strategically important metals from recycled materials.”
Industrial gases such as nitrogen, oxygen and argon are as essential to industrial production as electricity and water, forming a fundamental basis for industrial value creation. They are used in nearly all industries—from metallurgy, chemicals, medicine and food production to the electronics and semiconductor industries, where gases are indispensable for precise manufacturing processes.