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| Formerly | Métaux Précieux SA Metalor |
|---|---|
| Founded | Le Locle, Switzerland (1852 (1852)) |
| Founder | Martin de Pury & Cie |
| Headquarters | Neuchâtel, Switzerland |
| Key people | Antoine de Montmollin (CEO) |
| Parent | Tanaka Kikinzoku Group of Japan. |
| Website | www.metalor.com |
Metalor Technologies, previously Métaux Précieux SA Metalor, founded in 1852, is a subsidiary of Japan's Tanaka Kikinzoku Group. Metalor has become one of the major world suppliers of precious metals related products & procedures. It makes a wide array of alloys, especially for the watch and jewellery industry, supplying many of the Swiss watch brands, although it has expanded its activities far beyond its primary sector.
History
The roots of the company go back to the "preparatory rolling mill" founded in 1852 by Martin de Pury & Cie in Le Locle. This specialized in smelting gold and manufacturing watch cases. In 1864, the plant, which had five employees at the time, was taken over by the Banque du Locle.
In 1918 the company became the property of the Swiss Bank Corporation. Operations have expanded to refining precious metals and producing bullion. In 1936, the bank association founded Métaux Précieux S.A. Metalor in Le Locle. As a result, production activities were initially expanded at the Neuchâtel site and later in other countries.
The group’s Hong Kong refinery opened in 1982, and Metalor began running its US refinery in 1986. In 1998, SBC merged with Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) and a majority of the shares of Métaux Précieux SA Metalor were acquired from SBC by a group of Swiss private investors comprising Ernst Thomke, Martin Bisang, Rolf Soiron and Giorgio Behr. The refinery group changed name from “Métaux Précieux SA Metalor” to “Metalor Technologies” in 2001.
In 2013, the company selected Singapore as the location for establishing a gold refinery and manufacturing facility for bullion products. This decision was made to cater to the growing regional gold demand, which aligns with the Singapore government's initiatives to position the country as a prominent global trading hub for physical precious metal transactions. The Singapore refinery was opened in June 2014.
In September 2016, 100% of Metalor was sold to the Japanese group of precious metals producers Tanaka Kikinzoku. Previously, the French investor Astorg Partners, who took over Metalor in 2009, held a majority of 50.5% of the shares.
Spinoff
Metalor Dental
Metalor Dental had not been integrated into the Metalor Group : it has now, dating January 1, 2009, been merged into Cendres & Métaux, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.
Sale
In September 2016, Metalor Metals was sold to Tanaka Kikinzoku Group of Japan.
References
- "Message from our CEO". Metalor. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- "Metalor Refinery - Gold University - BullionStar". BullionStar Singapore. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- "Opening Address by SMS Lee Yi Shyan at the Opening Ceremony of Metalor Technologies Singapore Refinery". www.mti.gov.sg. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- "Metalor : Press Release: Metalor Technologies International is pleased to announce that the previously communicated agreement to sell 100% of the equity of Metalor to Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo". 2018-06-30. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
- Zern, Björn. "Metalor Technologies wird französisch | NZZ". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2022-06-23.
- "Japaner übernehmen Schweizer Gold-Raffinerie Metalor". Goldreporter (in German). 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
- "Cendres+Métaux - Metalor Dental". www.cmsa.ch. Archived from the original on 2009-03-03.
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