Metalor Technologies

Metalor Technologies, originally known as Métaux Précieux SA Metalor, is a Swiss precious-metals company whose roots date to a preparatory rolling mill established in Le Locle in 1852. The original business was associated with the melting of gold and the manufacture of watch cases, reflecting the importance of precious metals to the historic Swiss watchmaking economy. Over time, the company developed from a local metalworking operation into a multinational group involved in precious-metals refining, alloy production, bullion manufacturing and other related processes. The company’s early institutional history was closely connected with Swiss finance. In 1864, the Le Locle plant was acquired by the Banque du Locle. The business later became part of the Swiss Bank Corporation in 1918. During the following decades, its activities expanded beyond the production of watch-related components to include the refining of precious metals and the manufacture of bullion. In 1936, the bank association established Métaux Précieux S.A. Metalor, creating the corporate identity under which the company became more widely known. Metalor subsequently broadened its manufacturing and refining footprint outside Switzerland. A refinery in Hong Kong began operations in 1982, followed by activity at a United States refinery in 1986. This international expansion allowed the company to serve customers in major jewellery, industrial and precious-metals markets while remaining closely associated with Swiss technical expertise. Its product scope also moved beyond traditional watchmaking. The company became a supplier of alloys and other precious-metal materials to watch and jewellery manufacturers, including Swiss watch brands, while extending into applications and procedures outside its original core sector. The ownership structure changed substantially during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. After the 1998 merger of Swiss Bank Corporation with Union Bank of Switzerland, a majority interest in Métaux Précieux SA Metalor was acquired from SBC by a group of Swiss private investors. The company adopted the name Metalor Technologies in 2001. French investment firm Astorg Partners later became the majority shareholder, holding 50.5% before the subsequent sale of the business. In 2013, Metalor selected Singapore for a new gold refinery and bullion-manufacturing facility. The location was intended to support rising regional demand for gold and Singapore’s effort to strengthen its position as a global centre for physical precious-metals trading. The facility opened in June 2014, adding an important Asian production and distribution base to Metalor’s existing international network. In September 2016, Tanaka Kikinzoku, a Japan-based group specialising in precious-metals production, acquired all of Metalor. The transaction placed the Swiss company within a larger international precious-metals group while preserving Metalor as a distinct operating brand. Metalor’s business is therefore best understood as a specialist B2B materials and refining brand rather than a consumer jewellery label. Its customers and partners include industrial users, jewellery and watch manufacturers, bullion-market participants and other organisations requiring processed, refined or alloyed precious metals. The available reference material does not provide a current executive roster, detailed financial information or a complete list of present facilities and markets.

Metalor’s history begins in 1852 with the establishment of a preparatory rolling mill in Le Locle by Martin de Pury & Cie. The operation specialised in melting gold and making watch cases, placing it within the industrial ecosystem that developed around Swiss watchmaking. In 1864, when the plant employed five people, ownership passed to the Banque du Locle. The enterprise later entered the orbit of Swiss banking. In 1918 it became the property of the Swiss Bank Corporation. Under this ownership, the business expanded its activities to include precious-metals refining and bullion production, moving beyond the narrower role of a watch-case and metalworking operation. In 1936, the banking association established Métaux Précieux S.A. Metalor in Le Locle. Production was subsequently expanded at the Neuchâtel site and later at facilities outside Switzerland. Internationalisation became an important part of the company’s development. Metalor opened a refinery in Hong Kong in 1982 and began operating a refinery in the United States in 1986. These facilities supported the company’s growing role as a supplier of refined precious metals, alloys and related products to customers in multiple regions. Although watchmaking and jewellery remained important markets, the company also expanded into broader industrial and technical applications. A major ownership transition followed the 1998 merger of Swiss Bank Corporation with Union Bank of Switzerland. A group of Swiss private investors, including Ernst Thomke, Martin Bisang, Rolf Soiron and Giorgio Behr, acquired a majority of Métaux Précieux SA Metalor from SBC. In 2001, the group changed its name to Metalor Technologies, signalling a broader international and technology-oriented identity. Astorg Partners later became the company’s principal financial owner. Before the 2016 transaction, Astorg held a majority stake of 50.5%. In September 2016, all of Metalor was sold to Tanaka Kikinzoku, a Japanese precious-metals group. The acquisition integrated Metalor into a larger global platform while retaining the Metalor name and its Swiss industrial heritage. Metalor also expanded its Asian presence during this period. In 2013, it chose Singapore for a new gold refinery and bullion-manufacturing facility. The decision was associated with growing regional demand and Singapore’s policy objective of becoming a major centre for physical gold and precious-metals trading. The refinery opened in June 2014. The available reference material does not establish a complete current corporate structure, executive list, financial profile or detailed catalogue of facilities. It does establish Metalor’s continuing identity as an international B2B precious-metals company serving refining, bullion, alloy and specialist manufacturing needs.

1. 2016Acquired by Tanaka Kikinzoku

   Tanaka Kikinzoku acquired 100% of Metalor Technologies.

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2. 2014Singapore facility opens

   The Singapore refinery opened in June.

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3. 2013Singapore refinery and bullion facility selected

   Metalor selected Singapore for a new gold refinery and bullion-manufacturing facility.

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4. 2001Company renamed Metalor Technologies

   The refinery and precious-metals group changed its name from Métaux Précieux SA Metalor to Metalor Technologies.

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5. 1998Private investors acquire a majority interest

   Following the merger of Swiss Bank Corporation and Union Bank of Switzerland, Swiss private investors acquired a majority of the company from SBC.

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6. 1986United States refinery operations begin

   The company began operating a refinery in the United States.

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7. 1982Hong Kong refinery opens

   Metalor expanded its refining network into Asia with a Hong Kong refinery.

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8. 1936Métaux Précieux S.A. Metalor established

   The banking association founded Métaux Précieux S.A. Metalor, creating the corporate name associated with the company’s later development.

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9. 1918Business becomes part of Swiss Bank Corporation

   The company entered the ownership of Swiss Bank Corporation.

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10. 1864Plant acquired by Banque du Locle

    The Le Locle plant was taken over by the Banque du Locle while employing five people.

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11. 1852Preparatory rolling mill established in Le Locle

    Martin de Pury & Cie established the operation that formed the historical basis of Metalor, initially focusing on gold melting and watch-case manufacture.

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A Swiss-origin, international B2B precious-metals specialist combining refining, alloy development, bullion production and application expertise for watchmaking, jewellery, industrial and related markets.

• Refined precious metalsPrecious-metals refining

  Refining is a central part of Metalor’s industrial identity. The company developed from gold melting and watch-case production into the processing and refining of precious metals, with facilities historically reported in Switzerland, Hong Kong and the United States. The reference material does not specify the full present-day range of refined metals or service formats.

• Precious-metal alloysMaterials for watchmaking and jewellery

  Metalor produces a wide range of alloys, particularly for watch and jewellery manufacturing. These materials extend beyond basic refined metal by providing compositions suited to fabrication and specialist production requirements. Metalor has supplied Swiss watch brands and other customers, although detailed alloy specifications are not provided in the reference material.

• Bullion productsBullion and investment products

  Bullion production became part of Metalor’s business as the company expanded its precious-metals activities. The Singapore facility, opened in 2014, was specifically associated with gold refining and the manufacture of bullion products for regional and international markets.

• Industrial precious-metals materials and proceduresIndustrial materials

  Beyond watchmaking, jewellery and bullion, Metalor has expanded into other precious-metal-related products and procedures for industrial and specialist customers. The available source describes this scope broadly but does not enumerate the current product catalogue or individual applications.

• 2016Sale of Metalor to Tanaka KikinzokuM&A

  Metalor had previously been controlled by private investors and later by Astorg Partners, which held a 50.5% majority before the sale.

  What changed. Tanaka Kikinzoku acquired 100% of Metalor Technologies.

  Aftermath. Metalor became a subsidiary of the Japan-based Tanaka Kikinzoku Group.

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• 2013Establishment of a Singapore gold-refining and bullion hubStrategy

  Metalor sought to serve growing Asian demand for gold while aligning with Singapore’s development as a major centre for physical precious-metals trading.

  What changed. The company selected Singapore for a new gold refinery and bullion-manufacturing facility.

  Aftermath. The facility opened in June 2014 and added an Asian production base to Metalor’s international network.

  Source

• 2016Tanaka Kikinzoku acquires Metalor Technologies

  Tanaka Kikinzoku acquired 100% of Metalor, bringing the Swiss precious-metals company into the Japanese group’s international precious-metals business.

  M&A
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• 2014Metalor opens Singapore refinery

  The new Singapore refinery and bullion facility opened in June, extending Metalor’s international production network and strengthening its access to Asian precious-metals markets.

  Product launch
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• 2013Metalor selects Singapore for a new gold refinery and bullion facility

  Metalor announced Singapore as the location for a new gold refinery and bullion-manufacturing facility, linking the investment to regional gold demand and Singapore’s ambition to become a major hub for physical precious-metals trading.

  Product launch
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1. Metalor Technologies
2. Metalor Technologies official website