Gray Partner Aurubis Breaks Ground on State-of-the-Art Recycling Facility

The company selected Gray to partner on the company’s first greenfield operation in North America.  

“Gray’s deep understanding of this region and adaptability within the current market allowed us to come alongside Aurubis to partner on this incredible opportunity,” says Brett Goode, senior vice president with Gray’s South Atlantic Office. “We are excited to play such a vital role in a project that will fuel the local economy for years to come.”  

The project, coined “Aurubis Richmond, USA,” will have a capacity of about 90,000 tons of complex recycling materials. The state-of-the-art plant will enable Aurubis to tap a market with strong growth potential and expand its international integrated smelter network. 

“With this investment, we’re setting a clear example of sustainable growth and will become a forerunner for multimetal recycling in the US as well – a role that we already have in Europe now,” says Roland Harings, CEO of Aurubis. “We’re implementing our strategic agenda with the new site and proving once again that we can outstandingly combine profitable growth and sustainable business activity. With the new capacities, we’re in a strong starting position at the right time and are receiving enthusiastic local support due to the investment’s sustainability aspects especially, for which I’d already like to express my sincerest thanks.”

The recycling technology in the new plant enables complex metal-bearing recycling materials to be processed and returned to the material cycle. As a result, the investment supports the conservation of natural resources and Aurubis’ efforts to utilize higher quantities of complex secondary raw materials in addition to copper raw materials. 

Situated on 100 acres, the project will house close to 400 workers at peak construction. Once complete, 100 new jobs will be created for the region.  

The groundbreaking ceremony included an official “turning of the dirt.” Guests consisted of, among others, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp as well as of local government officials, community leaders, and partners.

About Gray     

Gray is a fully integrated, global service provider deeply rooted in engineering, design, construction, digital, equipment manufacturing, and real estate services. Consistently ranked among the top industrial contractors in the U.S., we focus on the following markets for domestic and international customers: Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Automotive, Distribution, Mission Critical, and Commercial.  

Founded in 1960, Gray has grown to encompass a complementary family of brands designed to augment and enhance each other’s specialized capabilities without gaps or redundancies. Our robust offering enables us to create one-of-a-kind solutions at the highest levels of customization, delivering unmatched precision and partnership to some of the world’s most sophisticated organizations.    

For more information on Gray, visit gray.com and follow us @Gray.    

About Aurubis   

Aurubis – Metals for Progress 

Aurubis AG is a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide. The company processes complex metal concentrates, scrap metals, organic and inorganic metal-bearing recycling materials, and industrial residues into metals of the highest quality. Aurubis produces more than 1 million tons of copper cathodes annually, and from them, makes a variety of products such as wire rod, continuous cast shapes, profiles, and flat rolled products made of copper and copper alloys. Aurubis produces a number of other metals as well, including precious metals, selenium, lead, nickel, tin, and zinc. The portfolio also includes additional products such as sulfuric acid and iron silicate.  

Further information at www.aurubis.com.