Gray Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for New Copper Smelting Facility

The company selected Gray to build its new manufacturing facility and first greenfield plant in more than 100 years acclaimed as the first multimetal secondary smelter in the U.S. More than 1,600 tons of structural steel were required for project construction, which includes 15 buildings across the 100-acre manufacturing campus.

In total, Gray’s self-perform team erected more than 2,500 tons of steel mezzanines and equipment platforms for this facility, including moment welds, field fabricated decking, and seam welded panels. The rigging team picked and placed 200,000 pounds of equipment and materials throughout the project. Additionally, Gray was responsible for the process duct work for this facility. Crews assembled and installed sections, some at over 100 ft. elevations, with some portions measuring more than 12 ft. in diameter. 

This work, and much more, was all performed at an accelerated pace to meet Aurubis’ schedule. Crews adopted a 24-hour active work schedule to ensure the project was completed on time. 

“The metals produced at this facility are crucial components in some the things we use daily, like phones, computers, cars, and more,” says Brian Jones, president & CEO, Gray Construction. “Gray is proud to play a role on this fantastic project that will have a direct impact on the economy and the lives of everyday people for years to come.  The success of this project would not have been possible if not for the tremendous relationship with Aurubis coupled with the outstanding effort of teams.”

The first materials are expected to be produced from this facility by the end of 2024. Once fully operational, this facility will process up to 90,000 tons of complex recyclable materials each year, producing 30,000 tons of blister copper from recycled components.

Aurubis is the largest copper producer in Europe and No. 2 globally. The company is also recognized as the world’s largest copper recycler by volume. The company processes metal concentrates, scrap metals, and metal-bearing recycling materials into high-purity metals and value-added products for a wide variety of industries.

About Gray: 

Consistently ranked among the top industrial contractors in the U.S., Gray focuses on the following markets for domestic and international customers: Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Data Centers, Advanced Technology, Distribution, and Commercial, with nearly 30 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia. 

Founded in 1960, Gray has grown to encompass a family of companies designed to augment and enhance each other’s specialized capabilities. Our robust offering—which includes engineering, design, construction, and operational improvements—enables us to deliver products and services of the highest value to the world’s leading organizations.  

For more information on Gray, visit gray.com and follow Gray on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.