Aurubis will commission a new automated pre-processing and sorting facility at its Hamburg site in late 2028, targeting more precise separation and valuation of copper- and precious-metal-bearing intermediates.

Sensor-based and X-ray sorting

The two-stage installation will combine automated material pre-processing with sensor-based and X-ray sorting. Incoming materials will be separated into defined grain sizes, allowing more precise identification of material components and more representative sampling. This should improve the assessment of metal content and help route intermediates to the most suitable downstream processing stages.

The system is designed to improve material-flow control and metal recovery efficiency while replacing physically demanding manual operations. Aurubis has not disclosed the specific sensor technologies, equipment suppliers or expected sorting accuracy.

Environmental and operational performance

The facility will be housed in an enclosed building with filtration and extraction systems designed to reduce dust-intensive processing and improve workplace safety.

“The new facility increases safety, improves our understanding of complex material flows, and helps us process valuable raw materials more efficiently,” said Dimo Kirilov, Aurubis’ Hamburg plant manager.

The investment follows the commissioning of Complex Recycling Hamburg in July 2026 and is part of Aurubis’ strategy to process increasingly complex raw materials and metallurgical intermediates within its own smelter network.

Source: Aurubis