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Innovation

Innovation is the engine that drives progress and ensures permanence over time. The Huelva metallurgical complex has made this principle the cornerstone of its philosophy, consolidating itself as one of the most modern and technologically advanced industrial centers in Europe in the copper sector.

Shared knowledge

We work closely with leading research centers, universities and technology suppliers to continuously improve our processes, becoming more efficient and sustainable.

In our industrial activity, we apply the most modern techniques in copper metallurgy and we carry out constant research to improve our operations and processes. The use of the best available technologies (BATs) allows us to produce copper competitively, maintaining the highest quality standards, and ensuring that our operations are environmentally compatible.

Plus, we collaborate directly with technology developers, to integrate their work into our processes, thus ensuring continuous innovation and improvement in our operations. We recognize the importance of having the best professionals. Therefore, we want to attract people who can form a team characterized by its talent and fully committed to the company’s strategic objectives.

To promote training, we carry out the following actions:

  • Chair at the Polytechnic University of Madrid’s Technical School of Mining and Energy Engineering.
  • Atlantic Copper Chair at the University of Huelva.
  • Atlantic Copper Foundation Chair at the International University of Andalusia.
  • Industrial Doctoral Program, in collaboration with the Universities of Huelva and Seville, to train future professionals while they are doing their doctoral thesis at our metallurgical complex.

€10 million

Annual average investment in technological innovation to improve production process efficiency in terms of energy efficiency, metallurgical recovery and environmental behavior.

“Innovation is and must be the great driving force for achieving all the objectives of our business strategy”

La innovación es y debe ser la gran herramienta dinamizadora para poder lograr todos los objetivos de nuestra estrategia empresarial

Our lines of work

Environmental practices

  • Atmospheric emissions.
  • Liquid effluent minimization.
  • Waste minimization.

Production process efficiency

  • Metallurgical recovery.
  • Energy management.
  • Digitalization-industry 5.0.
  • Facility capacity and availability.

Raw material flexibility

  • Management of impurities in concentrates.
  • Copper scrap processing.
  • Sulfuric acid market.
  • Waste recovery.

Results obtained in the last 10 years

-36 %

Reduction of unit particulate emissions

-4 %

Reduction of unit SO2 emissions

-30 %

Reduction of unit energy consumption

-40 %

Reduction of unit CO2 emissions (Scope 1 + 2 )

Public-private collaboration

We are committed to collaborating with national and European administrations and knowledge centers to develop our innovation and environmental improvement projects. These collaborations have strengthened our leadership position in Europe and around the world.

For every 10 euros we invest in R&D+i, we earmark 9 for innovation and 1 for research and development.

We have developed funded projects with:

  • European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
  • Technological Corporation of Andalusia (CTA)
  • Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.
  • Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI).
  • Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE).
  • Andalusian Energy Agency.