Umicore

Umicore is one of the world’s largest producers and refiners of precious and non-ferrous metals. Headquartered in Belgium, Umicore has developed into a global leader in metal recycling, specialty materials, and precious metal production.

Company History

The company traces its roots back to Union Minière, a Belgian mining company established in 1909. In 1989, Union Minière merged with two other state-controlled mining companies, forming the foundation for today’s Umicore. The modern name was adopted in 2000, coinciding with a strategic shift toward high-tech metallurgy, chemistry, and materials science.

A significant milestone was Umicore’s acquisition of the precious metals division of the former German company Degussa AG. For several years, Umicore continued producing gold and silver bars bearing the iconic Degussa logo under license. This licensing arrangement ended in 2005, and all subsequent Umicore bars have carried only the company’s own hallmark.

Umicore Today

Umicore produces a wide range of metals and advanced materials - including cobalt, germanium, zinc, nickel, gold, silver, and platinum - for use in sectors ranging from jewelry and electronics to automotive and construction. In the bullion market, Umicore is best known for its high-quality gold and silver bars, available in various sizes from 1 gram to 1 kilogram. Cast bars from 250 grams upwards are manufactured using traditional methods.

Umicore Minted Bullion & Coin Bars

Since 2010, Umicore has also issued legal-tender silver “coin bars”, known in German as Münzbarren. These bars are minted in 999 fine silver, range in size from 250 grams up to 15 kilograms, and feature a face value and national emblem from Andorra, making them legal tender in that issuing country. While not intended for circulation, coin bars offer tax advantages in some European countries due to their legal tender status.

Umicore in Germany

Although Umicore’s main precious metals refining operations are now based in Hoboken, Belgium, the company still maintains a presence in Germany. Notable subsidiaries include the Allgemeine Gold- und Silberscheideanstalt AG in Pforzheim and Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH in Schwäbisch Gmünd. These facilities continue to serve industrial clients as well as the investment bullion market.