PRESS RELEASE - Osnabrück, January 2024.
KME Germany GmbH in Osnabrück is planning a pioneering step towards a sustainable circular economy and CO2 savings with a new copper melting and refining furnace. This investment is intended to contribute to the increased use of copper scrap instead of virgin metals. The aim is to integrate the new furnace into the existing plant for melting, alloying and refining non-ferrous metals with an unchanged total melting capacity of 45 tons per hour. The environmental impact will be assessed in a comprehensive environmental report. The modernization of the production facilities in Osnabrück is a strategic step towards optimizing resource consumption and minimizing the ecological footprint at the same time. The innovative refining furnace enables the selective fire refining of copper scrap, allowing the targeted removal of unwanted impurities.
The constantly rising global demand for copper, driven by emerging markets and current technological developments, adds to the significance of this project. Over the next two decades, a considerable additional demand for copper is expected in the fields of automotive engineering, electrification and digitalization as well as in the energy transition. KME‘s products are used in a wide range of applications in automotive, electrical and energy technology, renewable energies, mechanical and plant engineering, electronics, telecommunications and the aerospace industry.
Frank Otten, Head of Environmental Affairs at KME, sees this innovative technology as a significant step towards further optimizing resource efficiency at KME: „This process provides a sustainable solution for processing copper scrap and thus minimizing the use of primary copper, which is very energy-intensive to produce. This enables us to achieve a further significant reduction in the CO2 footprint of our products.“
KME consistently pursuing a resource-conserving approach and is actively contributing to advancing the circular economy in the copper processing sector. The KME site in Osnabrück will not only become a center for innovative technologies, but also a pioneer in the sustainable and efficient use of resources. The planned investment of 10 million euros underlines KME‘s commitment to a green future and sets an important example for sustainable corporate practices.
Dr. Peter Böhlke, Head of Technology and Innovation at KME, emphasizes the importance of the project: „The goals are not only environmentally friendly, but also make economic sense. We are striving to close the material cycle, preserve high-value metals and at the same time reduce the consumption of resources.“
In the spirit of early public participation, interested citizens are invited to contact KME directly to find out more about this pioneering project.
Dr. Peter Böhlke | Frank Otten |
