Messer, the largest privately owned specialist in industrial and specialty gases, has partnered with multimetal supplier Aurubis AG to commission a new air gas production plant in Lünen, Germany. Located at Aurubis’ recycling site—a global leader in non-ferrous metals and copper recycling—the facility will extract essential gases to support local production.

The state-of-the-art air separation plant (ASU) at Aurubis Luenen generates up to 210 tons of oxygen and 16 tons of nitrogen daily, supporting various metallurgical processes. Oxygen is used extensively in copper production furnaces—from smelting to anode and auxiliary furnaces—while nitrogen is used across the production chain for purging and 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.”