Aurubis#History

The historical roots of Aurubis go back to 1770.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=14 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |author=Albert Gieseler |date=2009 |language=de |publisher=Albert Gieseler |title=Norddeutsche Affinerie AG - Allgemeines |url=http://www.albert-gieseler.de/dampf_de/firmen4/firmadet48086.shtml |website=Kraft- und Dampfmaschinen Blog}} The predecessor of Aurubis initially smelted coins and precious metal alloys. After the occupation of the then precious metal trading center Amsterdam in 1795, the company benefited from the tense situation on the precious metal market before it was also blocked by French occupiers due to the occupation of Hamburg in 1806.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=15 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |author=Janine Kühl |date=2024-05-31 |language=de |publisher=NDR |title=1814: Nach Hamburgs Franzosenzeit kommen die Russen |url=https://www.ndr.de/geschichte/chronologie/1814-nach-Hamburgs-Franzosenzeit-kommen-die-Russen,franzosenzeit101.html}}

From around 1830, Hamburg shipowners began to bring copper ore back from North and South America on the return voyages of their emigrant ships, creating a lucrative market.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=20 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}} Over time, production shifted to the smelting of ores.

After the great fire of Hamburg (1842){{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |author=Bernhard Sprengel |date=2021-08-17 |publisher=Axel Springer Deutschland GmbH |title=Als Hamburg in Flammen aufging, drohte Lynchjustiz |url=https://www.welt.de/geschichte/article164272570/Hamburger-Brand-1842-Als-die-Hansestadt-brannte-drohte-Lynchjustiz.html |website=WELT}}, demand for metals rose again, especially for copper as a non-combustible building material, for example for roofs. In 1846, Joh. Ces. Godeffroy & Sohn acquired a stake in Beit, Marcus und Salomon, Gold- und Silberscheider, the forerunner of Aurubis. The joint company was called Elbkupferwerk.

{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=14, 19–22 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2024-06-20 |language=de |publisher=Sauerland & Stürmann GbR |title=Die grossen Scheideanstalten & Goldschmelzen. DEGUSSA, HERAEUS, ALLGEMEINE, AURUBIS & Co. |url=https://www.goldankauf-bielefeld.info/was-uns-interessiert/goldankauf/kleine-historie-der-edelmetall-scheideanstalten/ |website=GOLDANKAUF BIELEFELD}} An economic upswing led to the founding of Elbhütten-Affinier- und Handelsgesellschaft in 1856, whereby the Elbkupferwerk and Beit's main plant were merged.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=14, 22 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |archive-date=2014-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129032823/http://www.hamburger-wirtschaft.de/html/hw2006/artikel/08_portrait/06_07_18_affinerie.html |date=2006-07-01 |publisher=Handelskammer Hamburg |title='Norddeutsche Affinerie AG − Von der Peute in alle Welt |url=http://www.hamburger-wirtschaft.de/html/hw2006/artikel/08_portrait/06_07_18_affinerie.html}} Around 1860, the new company accounted for more than 50% of total German copper production with around 3000 tons per year.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=23 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}} From 1857 to 1864/1865, due to collapsing demand, falling metal prices and declining ore returns, the plant's activities were first successively curtailed and finally shut down completely.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=23 f |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}} Together with Norddeutsche Bank, a consortium led by Ferdinand Beit founded Norddeutsche Affinerie AG on April 28, 1866 and took over the now closed Beit's maint plant.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=24 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}} Norddeutsche Bank was the main shareholder of the new company with 75% of the shares.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=25 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}

File:Elektrolyse Aufnahme ca. 1910 Aurubis.jpg

In the course of the foundation of the German Reich in 1871 and the introduction of the Reich-wide single currency Mark in 1873, the company returned to the affination of coins, as previously issued coins had to be recycled to a certain extent.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=25–27 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}} In 1908, the expansion and relocation of the Norddeutsche Affinerie to the Peute, an industrial area in today's Hamburg-Veddel, began. The final move and complete demolition of the old plants and facilities took place in 1913. During this upheaval, the new major shareholders Frankfurter Metallbank and Metallurgische Gesellschaft and Deutsche Gold- und Silber-Scheideanstalt (later Degussa) joined in, whereupon Norddeutsche Bank's shareholding was reduced to 50%.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=30 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}

With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the blockade of the North Sea by the British Royal Navy increasingly dried up the supply of raw materials and primary products, while at the same time the demand for war equipment increased. Initially, voluntary metal donations were processed into war material. Later, expropriated household items as well as church bells and organ pipes were also melted down through the influence of a state-owned company.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=30–32 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}Die Enteignung der Kirchenglocken. In: Mecklenburg. Zeitschrift des Heimatbundes Mecklenburg, Volume 12 (1917), pp. 75 ff. During the war, Belgian and Russian prisoners of war were also employed as forced labourers.

After the end of World War I in 1918, the Norddeutsche Affinerie was affected by the transition to a peacetime economy, labor shortages, high inflation and outdated equipment. In 1921, major investments were made in the site. In 1926, the British Metal Corporation acquired a 26% stake in Norddeutsche Affinerie,{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-28 |author=Norddeutsche Affinerie AG |date=1927-04-09 |language=de |title=Jahresbericht der Norddeutschen Affinerie über das 61. Geschäftsjahr vom 1. Oktober 1925 bis 30. September 1926 |url=https://pm20.zbw.eu/mirador/?manifestId=https://pm20.zbw.eu/iiif/folder/co/017155/manifest.json |website=20th Century Press Archives}} while two years later 51% of Chemiefabrik J. E. Devrient AG was acquired and incorporated into the Group. Despite the Great Depression starting in 1929, the company proved resilient and was able to expand its product range{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=32–34 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}.

After the National Socialists came to power (1933), the company experienced a massive upswing.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=35, 37 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}} At the same time, three people of Jewish descent, Richard Merton, Julius Levisohn and Heinrich Wohlwill, had to resign from the board of directors.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=39 f |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}} With Wilhelm Avieny from Metallgesellschaft and Hermann Schlosser from Degussa, two people who were closely linked to National Socialist politics took over leading positions on the Supervisory board in 1939.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=38 f |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}} On the eve of the World War II, the company covered half of Germany's copper consumption and employed around 1,450 people.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=37 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}

From 1940, the Norddeutsche Affinerie was involved in the processing of looted gold that had been extorted from Jewish owners. The company also played a leading role in a so-called metal donation from the German people and, in addition to voluntary donations, also melted down expropriated grave crosses, fountains, monuments and church bells.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=36 |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |author=Stefanie Grossmann |date=2023-12-09 |language=de |publisher=Norddeutscher Rundfunk |title="Was war da los?": Der "stumme Garten der Glocken" |url=https://www.ndr.de/geschichte/waswardalos/NDR-Serie-Was-war-da-los-Der-stumme-Garten-der-Glocken,glockenfriedhof100.html}}The bombing raids of Operation Gomorrah (July and August 1943) hit the factory rather indirectly: although the factory suffered a few bomb hits, the damage was limited compared to other areas of the city. Nevertheless, operations were at times at a standstill because large parts of the population and workforce had left Hamburg and only gradually returned. The damage caused by an air raid on November 4, 1944 was much more serious, and operations at the Norddeutsche Affinerie did not restart until the end of the war.100 Jahre Norddeutsche Affinerie, Hamburg 1966, pp. 78–80.

During the World War II, Norddeutsche Affinerie was an important supplier for the arms industry and used forced laborers in production. At its peak in July 1944, 806 forced laborers were employed out of a total workforce of around 1900, although an offer of a further 1,000 to 1,500 forced laborers from the Neuengamme concentration camp was rejected{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=41 f |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}.

File:Norddeutsche Affinerie Verwaltungsgebäude auf der Peute in Hamburg.jpg

After the end of the war and the beginning of the British occupation, the plant was threatened with dismantling. The first was carried out at the beginning of 1946 and concerned the facilities for aluminium powder production. By mid-1946, however, dismantling plans were obsolete. Confiscation of the metal that had been stored on the factory premises since the war was prevented. After an initial labor shortage, production slowly ramped up again from mid-1946100 Jahre Norddeutsche Affinerie, Hamburg 1966, pp. 81–85..

The “Wirtschaftswunder” followed with the Marshall Plan in 1947 and the subsequent Currency Reform of 1948, which helped Norddeutsche Affinerie to regain its former size.For the investments and innovations made, see 125 Jahre Norddeutsche Affinerie Aktiengesellschaft, Hamburg 1991, p. 78 f. and 90 f. International supplier relationships were also re-established.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=50 f |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}100 Jahre Norddeutsche Affinerie, Hamburg 1966, pp. 85–89. From the beginning of the 1960s, Norddeutsche Affinerie hired foreign workers due to the labour shortage in the West Germany.100 Jahre Norddeutsche Affinerie, Hamburg 1966, p. 90 f. In 1973, the company employed around 3,000 people; 38.5 percent were foreign workers.125 Jahre Norddeutsche Affinerie Aktiengesellschaft, Hamburg 1991, p. 91.

From 1969, international projects and investments were made, such as in the Otavi Mining Company, Transvaal Alloys and Freeport Indonesia.{{citation|access-date=2025-05-25 |date=2016 |editor=Aurubis AG |isbn=978-3-944334-71-4 |location=München |pages=54 f |publisher=August Dreesbach Verlag |title=Cu 150.0. Tradition, Expertise, Innovation. 1866–2016. The History of the Copper Group |url=https://www.aurubis.com/dam/jcr:0ab17512-3176-4048-b208-282d9f39eecf/Aurubis-Chronicle_Cu_150.0_EN.pdf}}125 Jahre Norddeutsche Affinerie Aktiengesellschaft, Hamburg 1991, p. 91 and 102. In 1975, the company founded the joint venture Deutsche Giessdraht GmbH together with the chilean copper producer Codelco and the German Hüttenwerke Kayser from Lünen.{{cite web|access-date=2022-05-27 |author=Federal Cartel Office |date=2018-08-20 |format=PDF |language=de |title=Fallbericht. Fusionskontrolle: Aufstockung der Beteiligung der Aurubis an der Deutsche Gießdraht auf 100 %. |url=https://www.bundeskartellamt.de/SharedDocs/Entscheidung/DE/Fallberichte/Fusionskontrolle/2018/B5-62-18.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2 |website=bundeskartellamt.de}}Hüttenwerke Kayser AG. Vor 125 Jahren in Berlin gegründet. Handelsblatt, March 21, 1986.

In July 1998, Norddeutsche Affinerie went public,{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=1998-07-07 |language=de |publisher=Deutsche Börse |title=Angaben zur Erstnotierung - Aurubis AG |url=https://erscontent.deutsche-boerse.com/erscontentKir/de/M_IPOData.kir?wp=DE0006766504&orig=yes&navpathFactsheet=&navpathNotes=}} with 70% of the shares being transferred to the free float, while the main shareholders Inmet Mining, Mount Isa Holding and Degussa each held 10% of the remaining sharesKupferaktie im Angebot. Titel der Norddeutschen Affinerie kommen zu 22 bis 26 Mark. Frankfurter Rundschau, June 25, 1998, p. 14..

In September 1999, the joint venture partner Kayser was fully acquired by Norddeutsche Affinerie.{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=1999-09-11 |language=de |title=Affinerie kauft die Kayser AG |url=https://taz.de/Affinerie-kauft-die-Kayser-AG/!1271436/ |website=Die Tageszeitung}} In 2002, Prymetall, which previously operated a copper pre-rolling plant together with Wieland-Werke in Stolberg, was acquired.NA treibt Vorwärtsintegration voran. Übernahme von Prymetall stärkt Profitabilität – Kauf wird innenfinanziert. Börsen-Zeitung, November 20, 2001, p. 10. In February 2008, Norddeutsche Affinerie took over more than 91% of the Belgian copper processor Cumerio. In April 2008, the complete takeover of Cumerio for around EUR 777 million was completed by means of a squeeze-out.{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2008-04-15 |language=de |title=Cumerio verlässt die Börse |url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/finanzen/artikel/a-547537.html |website=Manager Magazin}} On April 1, 2009, the company was renamed Aurubis AG.{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |author=Thomas Lenz, Richard Heizmann |date=2009-04-08 |format=PDF |language=de |publisher=Deutsche Börse |title=Eurexrundschreiben 054/09 – Norddeutsche Affinerie AG: Namensänderung |url=https://www.eurex.com/resource/blob/201338/780cfbc74d7733fa4aa10620359bfd4e/data/cf0542009g.pdf.pdf |website=eurex}} At the same time, Prymetall GmbH & Co. KG was renamed Aurubis Stolberg GmbH & Co. KG. In 2011, Aurubis completed the acquisition of the former Luvata Rolled Products Division{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2011-05-19 |title=Arubis Acquiring Luvata’s Rolled Products Division |url=https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/arubis-luvata-acquisition/ |website=recycing today}}.

In June 2020, Aurubis completed the acquisition of the Belgian-Spanish Metallo Group.{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2020-06-03 |title=380 Millionen Euro – Aurubis macht Übernahme perfekt |url=https://www.abendblatt.de/wirtschaft/article229243828/380-Millionen-Euro-Aurubis-macht-Uebernahme-perfekt.html |website=Hamburger Abendblatt}} In 2022, part of the Flat Rolled Products Division was sold to KME SE for around EUR 63 million. The sale included the sites in Zutphen (Netherlands) and the cutting centers in Birmingham (UK), Dolný Kubín (Slovakia) and Mortara (Italy) with a total of around 360 employees.Aurubis schließt Verkauf von vier Spartenstandorten ab. Intek-Tochter KME übernimmt 360 Beschäftigte. Börsen-Zeitung, August 2, 2022. In the same year, the company announced an investment of around EUR 200 million in a pilot plant and later a plant for battery recycling at the Hamburg site.Aurubis plant Anlage für Batterie-Recycling. Börsen-Zeitung, Februyry 18, 2022, p. 10.

In May 2023, a serious industrial accident occurred at Aurubis's primary copper smelter plant in Hamburg. Following a nitrogen leak during regular maintenance, three fatalities were reported.{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Brian|title=Aurubis incident in Germany causes three fatalities |url=https://recyclingtoday.com/news/aurubis-fatalities-hamburg-germany-copper-nitrogen-leak/ |access-date=10 May 2023}} In June 2023, it became known that Aurubis had apparently been systematically and extensively robbed by employees and subcontractors for years.{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2023-06-15 |language=de |title=Millionenschaden für Hamburger Konzern – Ermittler schlagen gegen mutmaßliche Diebesbande zu |url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/hamburg-ermittler-schlagen-gegen-mutmassliche-diebesbande-zu-a-12bd8567-c7ce-478d-b691-b946002f43e2 |website=Der Spiegel}} The loss amount was in the low three-digit million range.{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2023-09-02 |language=de |title=Diebe erbeuten Metalle und Gold im Wert von mehr als 100 Millionen Euro |url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/aurubis-metallklau-im-wert-von-mehr-als-100-millionen-euro-aktie-knickt-ein-a-8c159bff-403c-4afa-bab5-76ed4a113c9f |website=Manager Magazin}} The previous Executive Board members, with the exception of Inge Hofkens, who was only appointed in 2023, had to leave their posts.{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2024-01-23 |language=de |title=Aurubis entlässt drei von vier Vorständen |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/aurubis-vorstand-wechsel-100.html |website=tagesschau.de}} In September 2024, the reorganization of the Executive Board was completed.{{cite web|access-date=2025-05-27 |date=2024-06-21 |language=de |title=Scheidender Voith-Chef Haag wird Konzernchef bei Aurubis |url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/industrie/scheidender-voith-chef-haag-wird-konzernchef-bei-aurubis-a-24e30359-41bd-4a0f-bc49-f22840a4abd8 |website=Manager Magazin}}

File:Cu-Scheibe.JPG produced by continuous casting: radial crystallite structure revealed after etching.]]

Aurubis processes metal concentrates into primary products for the processing industry. Copper is the most important metal. Gold, silver, lead, tin and zinc as well as the by-metals tellurium, selenium and platinum group metals are also processed. Aurubis also recycles metals that are found in particular in industrial residues and electrical and electronic devices. Copper plays the largest role here as a scrap metal. The company sells metal products (especially copper products), sulphuric acid and by-products from the production processes. Continuous cast wire rod and continuous cast products in various formats are the most important products.See

• {{cite web |author= |title=Business model – robust yet flexible |url=https://www.aurubis.com/en/about-us/group/business-model |website=aurubis.ocm |access-date=2025-05-15}}
• Timetric: Aurubis AG (NDA). Company Profile and SWOT Analysis. London, January 14, 2017, p 5.
• Kupferkonzern Aurubis will sich breiter aufstellen. Börsen-Zeitung, March 3, 2017.

Aurubis shares belong to the Prime Standard segment of the German Stock Exchange (Deutsche Börse) and are included in the MDAX and STOXX Europe 600, among others.

Share allocation (Status: April 29, 2025):{{cite web |author= |title=Aurubis Aktie |trans-title=Aurubis share |url=https://www.boerse.de/unternehmensprofil/Aurubis-Aktie/DE0006766504 |website=boerse.de |language=de |access-date=2025-04-29}}

• Salzgitter AG - 25,00 %
• Rossmann Beteiligungs GmbH (Dirk Rossmann family) - 9,92 %
• Free float - 65,08 %

Environmental and climate protection are among the key targets of Aurubis' corporate strategy and are outlined in the company guidelines. Beyond compliance with legal requirements, voluntary commitments like the chemical industry's "Responsible Care" initiative are important instruments for continuously improving environmental and health protection performance at Aurubis. A uniform environmental standard was created and implemented for the Aurubis Group. The environmental management system at all of the main sites in the Aurubis Group is ISO 14001 certified. The Hamburg and Lünen sites, as well as Schwermetall Halbzeugwerk, are EMAS certified.[http://www.aurubis.com/fileadmin/media/documents/en/Umwelt/2011_Environmental_Report_online.pdf]{{dead link|date=August 2015}}

In the past 30 years, a total of €359 million has been invested in environmental protection measures at the Hamburg site. Five agreements on improving environmental protection and increasing energy efficiency have been concluded with the Hamburg State Authority of Urban Development and Environment and successfully implemented. In February 2011, a sixth emission reduction agreement was concluded between Aurubis and the city of Hamburg. This sixth agreement comprises environmental protection measures with a capital expenditure totaling about €20 million and is in effect until 2016.

Aurubis, formerly Norddeutsche Affinerie, is considered to be the biggest heavy metal emitter in northern Germany.

In the early 1980s, arsenic and cadmium, in particular, were shown to be present in the wastewater discharge and in the stacks’ exhaust air.{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/archiv/aktie-unter-der-lupe-die-norddeutsche-affinerie-hat-guten-draht-zu-analysten/2092014.html |title=Aktie unter der Lupe: Die Norddeutsche Affinerie hat guten Draht zu Analysten |publisher=Handelsblatt.com |date=2001-08-22 |access-date=2015-08-02|language=de}} In 1985, an arsenic scandal occurred in Hamburg when heavy metals accumulated in the soil in eastern Hamburg, especially in agricultural areas. The scandal became a scandal because the Hamburg authorities tried to conceal it. The environmental protection group Physik-Geowissenschaften took water and soil samples showing that arsenic, cadmium, copper, zinc, and other heavy metals had accumulated in the harbor mud in front of the plant and were still entering the river Elbe in 2005 through cracks in the embankment.

In August 2020, Aurubis signed a contract with the Norwegian mining company Nussir ASA. The company plans to mine about 2 million tons of ore annually over the next 15 years. Several environmental and human rights organizations have criticized the project.{{cite web |url=https://www.aurubis.com/binaries/content/assets/aurubisrelaunch/files/hauptversammlung/2021/gegenantraege-2021_en.pdf |title=Countermotions for the (virtual) Annual General Meeting on February 11, 2021 in Hamburg |website=www.aurubis.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502085910/https://www.aurubis.com/binaries/content/assets/aurubisrelaunch/files/hauptversammlung/2021/gegenantraege-2021_en.pdf |archive-date=2021-05-02}} In the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) statement, the problem is expressed as follows: "The Sami, who keep reindeer herds in the region of the future Nussir mine, are against new copper mining projects. From their point of view, the plans are to be seen as a violation of their right to free, prior, informed consent. Thus, Aurubis should not fulfill its copper contract with Nussir without the express consent of the Sami reindeer herders. Nils Utsi, chairman of the Repparfjord reindeer herders: The mine is in our animals' delivery room. If it is put into operation, we will lose our herds."{{Cite web|url=https://www.gfbv.de/en/news/hauptversammlung-des-kupferkonzerns-aurubis0-10444/|title = Annual general meeting of copper group Aurubis}} In August 2021, Aurubis terminated the contract due to these issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aurubis.com/en/media/press-releases/press-releases-2021/aurubis-and-nussir-terminate-memorandum-of-understanding-regarding-future-concentrate-supply|title = Aurubis and Nussir terminate memorandum of understanding regarding future concentrate supply|website=www.aurubis.com}}

Aurubis has been criticized for continuing some operations in Russia despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. While the company announced in April 2023 that it stopped buying copper from Russia, it has faced criticism for not fully cutting ties with the country. Critics argue that the company’s decision to continue some business activities in Russia shows a lack of full commitment to opposing the war.{{Cite news |title=Aurubis CEO says has stopped buying copper from Russia |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/aurubis-ceo-says-has-stopped-buying-copper-russia-2023-04-17/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230928110456/https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/aurubis-ceo-says-has-stopped-buying-copper-russia-2023-04-17/ |archive-date=2023-09-28 |access-date=2025-02-03 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=leave-russia.org - Checking Your Browser |url=https://leave-russia.org/aurubis-ag |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=leave-russia.org}}

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Category:Metal companies of Germany

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Hamburg

Category:Metal companies of Belgium

Category:Copper

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