The Largest Precious Metals Refineries in the World
The refining of precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum is a crucial step in the production of investment-grade bullion. The process involves removing impurities from raw metal and producing a pure and uniform product that meets the high standards of the industry. In this article, we will take a look at some of the largest precious metals gold and silver refineries in the world.
Valcambi SA - Switzerland
Valcambi SA is a precious metals refiner based in Balerna, Switzerland. Founded in 1961, the company was established as a partnership between two Swiss gold refineries, Valori & Cambi, with the goal of producing high-quality precious metal products for the global market. In 1968, the gold refiner was bought by Credit Suisse and Valcambi became London and Comex Good Delivery. Having been refining gold and other precious metals for over 50 years, Valcambi has established itself as one of the world's largest and most respected gold refineries.
Valcambi SA is owned by Rajesh Exports Ltd, a global jewelry manufacturer and retailer based in India, after the company bought out the stakes of US miner Newmont Mining Corporation and a group of global investors to own 100% equity in Valcambi in an all-cash deal of $400 million in 2015.
Image credit: Valcambi SA
Valcambi's expertise in gold refining is reflected in its production capacity, which is over 1,400 tons of gold and 500 tons of silver per year. The company is known for its high standards of quality and its commitment to responsible sourcing and produces a wide range of gold products, including bars, coins, and wafers.
Over the years, Valcambi has formed partnerships with many leading bullion dealers and financial institutions and is a popular choice among investors and collectors.
One of Valcambi's most unique and popular products is the Valcambi CombiBar, which is a bar of pure gold that can be easily divided into smaller denominations for use for investment or transactional purposes. The Valcambi CombiBar is a popular choice among investors and collectors who appreciate its flexibility and the peace of mind that comes with owning a high-quality gold product.
Metalor Technologies SA - Switzerland
Metalor Technologies is another Swiss-based precious metals refiner that has been in operation for over 150 years. Founded in 1852, Metalor has a production capacity of over 800 tons of gold and 400 tons of silver per year and produces a wide range of bullion products, including bars, coins, and wafers. Metalor Technologies is known for its high standards of quality and its commitment to responsible sourcing, making it a popular choice among bullion dealers and investors.
The company has a global presence with operations in Europe, Asia, and America, and is a member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).
Metalor Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd's refining and bar manufacturing capacity was established in 2013, aligning with the Singapore Government and International Enterprise Singapore's (IE) initiatives to establish Singapore as a prominent global hub for physical precious metals trading.
Metalor Singapore holds a crucial position in the city-state's ambition to establish itself as a regional hub for precious metals, given its status as the sole major gold refiner in the country.
In 2016, Metalor Technologies was acquired by Tanaka Kikinzoku, a family-owned Japanese company. Similar to Metalor, Tanaka Kikinzoku holds the esteemed position of being one of the five Referees recognized by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM).
In addition to its gold refining expertise, Metalor is also active in other areas of the precious metals market, such as trading, recycling, and the production of semi-finished products. Metalor also provides precious metals services to various industries, including electronics, medical devices, and jewelry.
Heraeus Precious Metals - Germany
Heraeus is a German-based precious metals refiner that has been in operation for over 150 years. It is a division of Heraeus Group, a German-based multinational technology company that operates in a number of industries.
The company has a production capacity of over 500 tons of gold per year and is known for its innovative refining techniques and sustainability initiatives. Heraeus produces a wide range of investment-grade bullion products and has partnerships with many leading bullion dealers and financial institutions.
Image credit: Heraeus
Heraeus operates refining facilities in several countries, including Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Heraeus' Hong Kong refining facility is one of the company's largest and most technologically advanced refineries. The facility is capable of refining large quantities of precious metals and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure the highest standards of purity and efficiency. The Hong Kong refinery is also strategically located to serve the growing demand for precious metals in Asia, making it an important hub for Heraeus' operations in the region.
The Heraeus Group finalized the acquisition of Argor-Heraeus, a Swiss precious metals processor, in 2017.
Both Heraeus and Argor-Heraeus are members of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).
PAMP SA - Switzerland
Founded in Ticino, Switzerland in 1977, PAMP SA (Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux) is a precious metals refiner that has been refining gold and other precious metals for over 40 years and has established itself as one of the most recognized and trusted refineries in the world. Despite its success, PAMP has remained a family-owned and operated company. Over the years, the company has expanded its operations and now has refining and fabrication facilities in several countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Hong Kong, and India.
Image credit: MKS PAMP
PAMP SA has a large production capacity, which is over 400 tons of gold, 600 tons of silver, and 30 tons of platinum group metals (PGMs) per year. PAMP was one of the first companies to introduce custom-designed bullion bars, and it has since become a leader in the production of unique and attractive precious metal products.
The company's most popular products include its Fortuna gold bars, which feature a unique design and come in various weights, and its Rosa series gold bars, which features a beautifully detailed rose motif. PAMP's Lunar and Wildlife series, which feature designs inspired by the Chinese zodiac and African wildlife, respectively, are also popular among customers.
PAMP has also been a pioneer in the use of advanced security features in its products. The company was one of the first to introduce tamper-evident packaging, and it has continued to innovate in this area. Today, PAMP's products are widely regarded as some of the most secure and well-protected precious metal products available.
Veriscan is a proprietary technology developed by PAMP SA that provides a unique identification for precious metal products. It is an advanced laser marking system that creates a microscopic image on the surface of a bullion bar or coin, which can then be used to verify the authenticity and provenance of the product.
The Veriscan system uses a high-resolution laser to create a microscopic image that is unique to each product. This image can be viewed using a specialized microscope and compared to a database of images stored by PAMP. If the image on the product matches the image in the database, the product is verified as genuine and its provenance can be traced back to the time of its production.
The Veriscan system provides an additional layer of security for precious metal products and helps to prevent counterfeiting and fraud. It also allows customers to easily verify the authenticity of their PAMP products and provides them with peace of mind when buying or selling precious metals.
In addition to its gold refining expertise, PAMP is also committed to responsible sourcing and sustainability initiatives. The company is a member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and is certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC), which is dedicated to promoting ethical, social, and environmental practices in the jewelry industry.
Rand Refinery - South Africa
The Rand Refinery is one of the world's largest gold refineries, and it has a rich history of producing gold. The company was founded in 1920 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and it was established to refine the gold that was being mined in the country. At the time, the gold mines in South Africa were producing large amounts of gold, and the need for a reliable and efficient refining process was becoming increasingly important.
Image credit: Rand Refinery
The Rand Refinery was established as a partnership between several mining companies, and it quickly became known for its high-quality refining processes. The company was able to refine gold to a purity of 99.99%, which was an industry standard at the time, and it became the primary gold refining facility for the entire country.
Rand Refinery's semi-finished products include granules, gold-curated alloys, wire, coin blanks, and minted bars.
Over the years, the Rand Refinery has expanded its operations and now has the capacity to refine over 400 tons of gold and 60 tons of silver each year. The company has also continued to innovate and improve its refining processes, and it is now able to produce gold to an even higher degree of purity.
In addition to refining gold, the Rand Refinery is also a major producer of gold coins and bars. Krugerrand blanks are manufactured at Rand Refinery and then minted by the South African Mint. The company produces coins for many countries and its products are widely recognized as some of the finest in the world. The Rand Refinery is also a member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), and its products are widely used in the global gold market.
The Rand Refinery is accredited to supply London Good Delivery silver bars to the London Metal Exchange (LME), Comex bars to the New York Mercantile Exchange (COMEX Division), one kilogram bars to the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM).
The Rand Refinery's commitment to producing high-quality gold products has made it a trusted and respected company in the industry. Its rich history and experience in refining gold have allowed it to maintain its position as one of the world's leading gold refineries, and it continues to play a major role in the global gold market.
Asahi Refining - Japan
Image credit: Asahi Refining
Asahi Refining is a subsidiary of Asahi Holdings, a Japanese company that has gained recognition as a prominent collector and recycler of precious metals across various industries, including dentistry, electronics, and jewelry.
However, in recent years, Asahi Holdings has garnered significant acclaim for owning and operating some of the world's largest and most reputable refineries, producing highly desirable gold bars and silver bars. This transformation came about when Asahi Holdings acquired Johnson Matthey in December 2014, a well-regarded brand in the bullion industry, and established it as a subsidiary, Asahi Refining.
Asahi Refining, now responsible for the production of numerous silver, gold, and platinum bars, has taken on the legacy of Johnson Matthey in this industry. These bars, manufactured at the same refineries and held to the same stringent standards, bear distinct logos and designs, setting them apart from the earlier Johnson Matthey bars while maintaining a reputation for excellence.
In February 2019, Asahi achieved success in an auction by securing the assets of Republic Metals Corporation (RMC), a Miami-based refiner that had declared bankruptcy. Prior to its bankruptcy, RMC held the position as one of the largest precious metals refineries in North America. Asahi's acquisition of RMC was a strategic move aimed at further solidifying its foothold in the North American precious metals market.
Silver Bullion Buys Gold From These Major Gold Refineries
The refining of precious metals is a crucial step in the production of investment-grade bullion, and the companies mentioned above are some of the largest and most reputable refineries in the world. Whether you are a bullion dealer, an investor, or simply a collector, choosing a reputable and reliable refiner is an important consideration.
Choosing only to carry bullion from the world's largest gold refineries, Silver Bullion has been importing gold bars and gold coins produced by reputable refineries such as Metalor, Heraeus, Argor-Heraeus, and Valcambi for many years. Customers who buy gold bullion from us are assured of its quality and recognizability.