Umicore
History of Umicore
Umicore has a rich history stretching back more than two hundred years. The company’s story begins in 1805 when Napoleon Bonaparte granted the industrialist Jean-Jacques Dony the rights to operate the Vieille Montagne zinc mine, located near the border between modern-day Germany and Belgium. This mine became a focal point of a growing network of European metal producers that would eventually evolve into Umicore.
By the late 1800s, Belgium had become a hub for metal refining and production. In 1887, a lead desilvering plant called Usine de Désargentation was founded on the banks of the Scheldt River in Hoboken, Belgium. Over time, this facility became one of Europe’s largest and most important precious metal complexes. As the industry grew, so did the company, merging with and acquiring other sites to create a more unified operation.
In 1919, the Hoboken plant became part of the Société générale métallurgique d'Hoboken. Over the next few decades, more expansion followed – including moves into zinc, cobalt, and specialty materials, as well as more acquisitions of refining sites in Olen and Overpelt.
In 1989, a major restructuring brought together these various operations under a single industrial group. In 2001, that group took on the name Umicore – a blend of Union Minière, a nod to its earliest corporate formation.
In 2003, Umicore acquired the Precious Metals Group (PMG) from the OM Group, which had previously absorbed the historic German refiner, Degussa AG. This acquisition linked Umicore to one of the most respected names in European bullion manufacturing and significantly expanded its refining capabilities.
Today, Umicore is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and operates as a global leader in precious metal recycling. Instead of relying on traditional mining to produce its bullion products, Umicore recovers gold, silver, and platinum group metals from industrial and consumer waste, like electronic scrap, automotive catalysts, and jewellery manufacturing residues. Its Hoboken facility is now one of the most advanced recycling refineries in the world, capable of extracting more than 20 metals from complex material streams.
One of Umicore’s key strengths is the company’s commitment to ethical sourcing and environmental sustainability, which aligns with its mission as a circular materials technology company. This dedication has earned Umicore the top spot on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations list in 2013.
Umicore precious metals bullion bars
Umicore produces a wide range of investment-grade bullion bars in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
Umicore gold bullion bars
Umicore gold bars are made from .9999 fine gold. They are available in both cast and minted formats, with each bar stamped with the company’s logo, weight, purity, and unique serial number to ensure authenticity.
Umicore cast gold bars are available in the following sizes:
- 250g gold bars
- 500g gold bars
- 1kg gold bars
- 400 oz London Good Delivery bars.
Umicore minted gold bars are available in the following sizes:
All 400 oz Good Delivery bars are produced at Umicore’s Hoboken and Amsterdam refineries, and are one of the most widely recognized institutional gold bars in the world. The company’s German subsidiary, Allgemeine Gold- und Silberscheideanstalt AG, also produces 400 oz bars, branded with an ‘Allgemeine’ stamp.
Umicore gold bars are all approved by the LBMA and meet the highest standards for weight, purity, and quality.
Umicore silver bullion bars
Umicore’s most popular silver product is its 1 kg fine silver cast bar, produced from .999 pure silver and engraved with the company’s hallmark, weight, and purity. With silver’s lower buy-in point, these bars are ideal for investors looking for long-term wealth preservation. They are often available pre-owned, reflecting Umicore’s dedication to sustainable and circular material solutions.
As well as the popular 1 kg silver bar, Umicore also produces minted silver bars in sizes ranging from 10 g to 100 g, and cast silver bars in sizes from 250 g to 5 kg.
Umicore’s platinum and palladium bars
For investors looking to diversify their precious metals holdings, Umicore also manufactures platinum and palladium bars. These bars are refined to .9995 purity and come in both minted and cast options.
Minted platinum and palladium bars are available in sizes ranging from 10 g to 100 g, while cast bars come in 500 g and 1 kg weights.
Umicore and ethical sourcing
Umicore is internationally recognised as being a leader in ethical sourcing and sustainable refining. Unlike traditional refiners that rely heavily on mining, Umicore sources a significant portion of its precious metals from recycled materials. This dramatically reduces the company’s environmental impact and helps preserve natural resources.
All Umicore gold is also certified ‘conflict-free’, which means it’s sourced without contributing to armed conflict, human rights abuses, or unethical labor practices – particularly in regions affected by political instability. Its materials comply with the highest international standards, including those set by the LBMA and the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC).
Umicore also recovers strategic metals like electro-optic materials and technical materials from scrap, operations which play an important role in supporting clean energy technologies and responsible manufacturing.
Other Umicore operations
Although Umicore is best known for its precious metals refining, the company is active in four key sectors: energy materials, recycling, catalysis, and performance materials – all of which are focused on sustainable innovation and responsible production.
Within its precious metals division, Umicore operates in three different ways:
- It functions as a toll refiner, meaning it refines materials on behalf of third parties for a fee.
- It sources and recycles precious and industrial metals from scrap materials, refining them to high purity standards and reintroducing them into the market.
- It supports precious metals trading and financial services through its recycling unit in Germany.
Buy Umicore bullion
Umicore’s bullion products are an excellent choice for investors looking for high-quality, ethically-sourced precious metals. At StoneX Bullion, we’re pleased to offer a wide selection of Umicore gold and silver bullion bars.
We source directly from the refinery where possible to maintain competitive pricing and full traceability. Whether you’re interested in a small 1 oz minted bar or want to preserve your wealth with a larger 5 kg bar, you’re sure to find the right option in our range.
Browse our full selection of Umicore bullion bars and invest in one of the most respected names in precious metals today.