German steelmaker Thyssenkrupp has officially reduced its hot metal production at the Duisburg plant after persistently low water levels on the River Rhine severely disrupted raw material supply chains. The logistical constraints forced the company to pull its push-barge fleet out of service and rely on externally chartered vessels with lower drafts, severely limiting the volume of incoming bulk materials. Although specific tonnage curtailments were not disclosed, market sources indicate the raw material shortage has fueled bullish sentiment, pushing domestic hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices in Northwest Europe up by approximately EUR20 per tonne to EUR710 per tonne ex-works.

The University of Edinburgh has licensed its Gold Copper Diamide Extraction process to Lithium Universe for cleaner recovery of gold and copper from electronic waste. The process uses organic compounds to selectively extract metals under milder, low-temperature conditions, offering a potential alternative to high-temperature smelting or aggressive leaching.

Aurubis’ new CRH facility in Hamburg has come online after an investment of around €190 million. Once fully ramped up, the facility will allow Aurubis to process more than 30,000 additional tonnes of recycling material per year, along with larger volumes of high-value smelter intermediates.

Aurubis’ new CRH facility in Hamburg has come online following an investment of around €190 million. The system will allow the company to process more than 30,000 additional tonnes of recycling material per year, as well as larger volumes of high-value smelter intermediates, strengthening Aurubis’ position in complex recycling feedstock processing.

US-based combustion technology provider Bloom Engineering has highlighted the growing role of advanced combustion systems in improving efficiency and reducing emissions across the aluminium industry. Its technologies are used in aluminium melting, holding, homogenising, reheating and heat-treatment processes, where precise temperature control is critical to production efficiency and product quality. Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bloom Engineering provides industrial burners, combustion systems, controls engineering and technical services through operations in the US, Germany, India and China. The company’s solutions support the use of natural gas, hydrogen, biofuels and other fuels while helping customers reduce CO₂ and NOx emissions, improve temperature uniformity, increase production capacity and lower fuel consumption. As aluminium producers accelerate decarbonisation efforts, advanced combustion technologies are expected to play a key role in supporting low-carbon and energy-efficient manufacturing.

【SMM Steel】thyssenkrupp Steel has restarted trial operations at its Hot Strip Mill 4 in Duisburg. The facility was damaged by a fire caused by a furnace deflagration on October 24 2025. Engineers integrated technical upgrades during reconstruction. A linked continuous caster returned to service in December 2025. The mill produces high-strength thin flat steel for auto e-mobility mechanical engineering construction and energy sectors.