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New Umicore Manufacturing Hall for Mechanical Anode Production strengthens Market Position

For more than 30 years, Umicore Electroplating has produced platinized anodes from titanium or niobium for the electrochemical industry and sold them under the brand name PLATINODE®. The technology for coating these anodes, the so-called HTE method (high-temperature electrolysis) was developed years ago by the Degussa research team in Hanau. Since then, the anodes produced in this way have stood for quality and durability.
For several years, the HTE department has also been involved in the development and sales of anodes coated with mixed metal oxide (MMO). Apart from the quality of the coating, the mechanical precision production is mainly responsible for the success of these anodes.

In order to increase the possibilities within the area of mechanical production, the decision was made in 2007 to build a new production hall equipped with the most modern sheet metal processing machines in addition to the existing manufacturing premises of the HTE department. After a nine-month building period, the new premises were ready for moving into in May 2008. A mechanical production area now stretches over an area of 500 square metres, enabling the processing of expanded metal grids and sheet metal materials made from refractory metals such as titanium, niobium, tantalum or molybdenum in thickness grades of up to 30 mm and lengths of up to 3.000 mm without any problems. This includes CNC-controlled punch and bending presses, round bending machines, circular cutting machines and guillotine shears. But also the welding equipment was extended accordingly with a laser welding unit, spot welding machines and TIG welding systems.
This enables the expansion of the product range, the reduction of delivery times and underlines the self-made claim of being a system provider in the field of anode production.
The anode production with a total area of 1050 square metres belongs to the core business of Umicore and strengthens its market position by the construction of the new production hall.

Link to the new brochure “PLATINODE^® – Product Overview and Range of Services”.

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