‘IERC 2025 Interview with Volker Pawlitzki – Our experience in circularity is one of the most important topics for the future’

ICM: Please present the activities of Montanwerke Brixlegg AG in a few words.

Volker Pawlitzki: At Montanwerke we produce Grade A copper cathodes, billets and cakes from 100 % scrap metal. Our history in this business goes back 560 years.

We have started as a smelter of copper and silver in 1463. The invention of electricity allowed us to build our first tankhouse where we have started our recycling process in 1904 by smelting some old (scrap) metal. In 1977 we decided to focus completely on the refining of scrap. As copper can be recycled without losses in quality infinitely we are able to use 100 % end-of-life-scrap or scrap and residues from industrial manufacturing processes to produce Grade A cathodes. Besides that, copper is a carrier metal for precious metals as gold, silver, palladium and platin which we are extracting in the refining process. Another important step is the separation of iron silicates which we are selling e.g. for blasting. Our development of the recycling process focuses on the lowest possible waste production. Therefor we established partnerships with smelters of tin, zinc and lead who can extract those materials from our filter dusts.

ICM: You are hosting the plant tour at IERC 2025, what will our delegates visit?

Volker Pawlitzki: Our plant tour will guide the visitors from the scrap yard to the site of the shaft furnace, the converter and the anode furnace. In the tankhouse they will be able to see where our copper transfers from anodes into 99,99 % Grade A copper cathodes. If we have still time we will visit the foundry where billets and cakes are produced.

ICM: How have your innovations etc. prepared you well for this growing green market?

Volker Pawlitzki: As we have focused on 100 % recycling already in 1977 we have always looked for opportunities to change our generated waste in production into a precious raw material for other branches. For us, our experience in circularity is one of the most important topics for the future.

Besides that we are very privileged to gain electricity from three company-owned hydro energy plants and photovoltaic plants. That is another reason that we are able to offer by far the lowest carbon footprint for copper cathodes which we sell as “BRX Green” Nevertheless, we are always interested in new developments in the energy and production sectors.

However, we know that being today the most sustainable copper producer is not enough for the future. That’s why we continue putting effort in the process excellence, energy efficiency and circularity.