Fonderie Horne

What Fonderie Horne does

Fonderie Horne is a copper smelting facility located in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glencore Canada. The facility processes copper concentrates and recycled copper-bearing materials through pyrometallurgical stages — most notably the proprietary Noranda Reactor and Noranda Converter (CvN) — to produce copper anodes at 99.1% purity. The smelter's entire anode output is shipped by rail/road to the affiliated CCR (Canadian Copper Refinery) in Montreal-East, where the anodes are electrolytically refined into high-purity copper cathodes. A co-located sulfuric acid plant captures sulfur dioxide emissions from the smelting process and converts them into saleable acid, creating a secondary revenue stream and supporting environmental compliance; Fonderie Horne is also engaged in an emission reduction program and a VELOX pilot project for process optimization.

The business model is industrial B2B and entirely intra-company: there are no third-party customers, no consumer-facing sales motion, and no publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue is derived from the transfer of copper anodes (and sulfuric acid by-product) within Glencore's vertically integrated Quebec copper metallurgical value chain. The customer base consists of a single affiliated downstream refiner (CCR), making the operation structurally captive rather than commercially contestable. Marketing and external engagement are minimal and primarily institutional: a community newsletter, a citizen liaison committee, public consultations, and a seasonal tourist visit program.

The company's primary competitive position rests on being the only copper smelter in Canada — a regulatory and capital-intensity moat reinforced by specialized proprietary technology (Noranda Reactor, Noranda Converter), a sulfuric acid plant, and ongoing environmental investment programs. The site is monitored against a ministerial authorization threshold for arsenic in ambient air (45 ng/m³) and reported 40.9 ng/m³ for the 2025–2026 measurement period, indicating operating performance within compliance. Fonderie Horne also partners with the REGENERE research chair and Glencore Technology for process innovation and emissions management. No funding events, leadership changes, M&A activity, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Name

Fonderie Horne

Legal name

Fonderie Horne

Website

https://fonderiehorne.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fonderie Horne is a copper smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec that processes copper concentrates and recycled materials into 99.1% pure copper anodes for shipment to affiliated CCR refinery. The Glencore Canada subsidiary also produces sulfuric acid as a by-product of emissions capture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Copper Smelting

NAICS

Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (331410), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing (3314)

SIC

Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341)

akta.pro primary industry

Copper Pyrometallurgy (Smelting, Converting) (IMAKADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Copper Anode/Cathode Production & Handling (IMAKADAG), Copper By-Products Recovery (Molybdenum, Gold/Silver, Sulfuric Acid) (IMAKADAH), Copper Recycling & Secondary Copper Smelting/Refining (IMAKADAK)

Keywords

• Copper smelting
• Copper anode production
• Pyrometallurgical processing
• Copper concentrate refining
• Sulfuric acid production

Headquarters

HQ city

Rouyn-Noranda

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Copper Anode Sales: The primary revenue stream is the sale of 99.1% pure copper anodes produced from processing copper concentrates and recycled materials. These anodes are sold to affiliated refinery CCR in Montreal-Est for transformation into cathodes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fonderie Horne operates a copper smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, that processes copper concentrates and recycled copper-bearing materials through pyrometallurgical stages involving the Noranda reactor and Noranda converter (CvN). The facility produces 99.1% pure copper anodes that are shipped to the affiliated CCR refinery in Montreal-Est for electrolytic refining into copper cathodes. The site also operates a sulfuric acid plant that captures and converts sulfur dioxide emissions from smelting into saleable sulfuric acid.

Product overview

Fonderie Horne is a copper smelting facility operating as part of Glencore Canada's metallurgical value chain. The operation processes copper concentrates and recycled materials through pyrometallurgical stages involving the Noranda reactor and Noranda converter (CvN) to produce copper anodes at 99.1% purity. These anodes are then transported to the affiliated CCR (Canadian Copper Refinery) in Montreal-East for cathode production. The facility also operates a sulfuric acid plant that captures sulfur dioxide emissions from the smelting process. The product portfolio centers on copper anodes as the primary output, with sulfuric acid as a significant by-product, and encompasses proprietary processing technologies including the Noranda converter and reactor systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Copper Anodes (99.1% pure)

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual arsenic concentration in ambient air: 40.9 ng/m³ (below 45 ng/m³ limit)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CCR (Affinerie CCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCR (Canadian Electrolytic Zinc) refinery in Montreal-Est is the primary downstream partner and offtake customer. Fonderie Horne's 99.1% pure copper anodes are shipped to CCR where they undergo electrolytic refining to produce high-purity copper cathodes. This partnership forms the core of the Quebec copper metallurgical value chain.
• Glencore TechnologysupportingTechnology or IntegrationGlencore Technology provides proprietary technology and process solutions across Glencore's global operations. As a Glencore subsidiary, Fonderie Horne benefits from access to and implementation of Glencore-developed technologies for smelting and emissions management.
• REGENERE Research ChairsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFonderie Horne partners with an academic research chair (Chaire de recherche REGENERE) focused on environmental or metallurgical research. This collaboration supports innovation in the smelter's processes and sustainability initiatives.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Codelco (Chuquicamata Smelter): Chilean state-owned copper miner-smelter with pyrometallurgical smelting of concentrates to anodes at Chuquicamata and other sites. Comparable as a major integrated copper smelter within a large diversified mining incumbent.
• Jiangxi Copper Corporation: China's largest integrated copper producer with smelting and refining capacity producing copper cathodes from concentrates and scrap. Comparable as a major diversified copper smelter/refiner with by-product recovery.

Direct peers

• Atlantic Copper: Freeport-McMoRan's Spanish copper smelter producing anodes and cathodes from primary concentrates. Comparable as a major standalone copper smelter integrated with a global mining parent's downstream refining.
• Mount Isa Mines (Glencore): Glencore's Australian copper smelter at Mount Isa, using ISASMELT/Ausmelt technology to produce copper anodes from concentrates. Directly comparable as a sister Glencore copper smelter producing anode feed for downstream refining.
• Aurubis AG: Europe's largest copper smelter and refiner, producing copper cathodes and anodes from primary concentrates and recycled materials. Directly comparable to Fonderie Horne as a primary/secondary copper smelter serving downstream refining.
• Boliden AB: Swedish mining and smelting company operating copper smelters (e.g., Rönnskär) that process primary concentrates and secondary materials into copper anodes/cathodes, with comparable pyrometallurgical and by-product sulfuric acid operations.
• KGHM Polska Miedź: Polish integrated copper producer with primary smelting and refining operations producing copper cathodes from concentrates and scrap, with similar pyrometallurgical processes and by-product recovery.

Others

• CCR (Canadian Copper Refinery): Glencore's Montreal-Est copper refinery that takes Fonderie Horne's anodes for electrolytic refining into cathodes. Included as the immediate downstream customer and affiliate, illustrating the integrated value chain rather than as a competing peer.

Emerging players

• Sterlite Copper: Indian copper smelter and refinery producing copper cathodes from primary and secondary feedstocks. Comparable as a standalone copper smelter operating pyrometallurgical processes and serving downstream refining markets.

Regional players

• Hudbay Minerals: Canadian mid-tier miner with copper concentrate production that feeds smelters like Fonderie Horne. Comparable as a Canadian-domiciled copper producer in the same domestic value chain, though Hudbay operates mines rather than smelting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fonderie-horne

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fonderie Horne