Argor-Heraeus: High-quality precious metal bars from Switzerland
Renowned manufacturer of exclusive bullion products with a long-established trading history
Argor-Heraeus is another major Swiss precious-metals refinery. This internationally renowned Ticino-based company (current annual production around 800 tons) is one of the world’s oldest refineries. Primarily supplying gold bars to end customers and wholesalers, the company also produces cast and minted bars in silver, platinum and palladium, with product highlights including kinebars, motif bars, multicards and goldseeds. This LBMA-certified refinery also supplies the luxury wristwatch and jewellery markets, and delivers precious-metal trading, hedging, transport, recycling and processing services to major customers.
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The history of Argor-Heraeus and its subsidiaries
The Argor-Heraeus refinery was first established in 1951 as Argor SA in Chiasso in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The company, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2021, was taken over by UBS, a major Swiss bank, in 1973, and precious metal bars from this period predominantly carry the UBS logo. The creation of Heraeus SA followed in 1986 as a joint venture between UBS and the German technology group Heraeus. Since then, the company has operated under the brand name Argor-Heraeus with a corresponding logo appearing on its precious-metal bars. Just two years later, the business relocated to new headquarters in Mendrisio, Switzerland. The global business concern, Heraeus Precious Metals (HMP), headquartered in Germany, acquired the remaining UBS shares in 2017 and has since been the sole owner of Argor-Heraeus.
Further company milestones include the founding of subsidiaries in Germany (2004), Argor-Aljba Switzerland (2005), Italy (2006) and Chile (2015), and the opening of AHSA2 – a second production facility – in Mendrisio in 2013.
Products for retail and major customers
In addition to Good Delivery bars made of gold (400 oz, 12.4 kg) and silver (1,000 oz, 31.1 kg) for central banks and other major customers, Argor-Heraeus also provides an extensive product range of cast and minted gold bars destined for the retail trade with a fineness of 99.99%, in various weight units ranging from 1 gram up to 5 kilograms.
Argor-Heraeus gold bars are available as classic rectangular bars, as Heraeus Kinebars with a forgery-proof hologram embossed on the back, and as motif bars from the “Following Nature” collection. In addition, Argor-Heraeus Multicard and Goldseed merchandise – individually removable rectangular and circular one-gram embossed bars respectively – reflect further product innovations.
Argor Heraeus also produces silver bars (purity 999.0%), platinum bars (999.5%) and palladium bars (999.5%) in several denominations from 5 grams to 15 kilograms. These precious metal bars can be instantly identified because all products carry a characteristic circular emblem with the inscription ARGOR HERAEUS SA and an AH logo in the centre. In addition, all products are also issued with a certificate of authenticity.
International gold trading accreditation
To facilitate its international trading role, Argor-Heraeus maintains valid certification for all the world’s major gold trading centres. These include the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) for gold and silver, as well as the London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM). The company is also accredited for trading on the Tokyo Commodities Exchange (TOCOM), the Commodities Exchange (COMEX) in New York, and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).
The LBMA specifically sets valid standards for high-quality precious metals. In addition to defined dimensions, these standards also address the quality and fineness of products and provide assurances about product authenticity, the transparency of raw material chains, and modern working conditions.
Argor-Heraeus business customers
One of Argor-Heraeus’ important business relationships is its contractual collaboration with the Austrian Mint, which has existed since 2002. To this day, the refinery still produces precious metals for this state mint company which is, of course, a near neighbour. And to enhance its metal-processing role, Argor-Heraus also acquired the Swiss watch and jewellery manufacturer Erbas SA in 2022. Commenting on the conclusion of this merger, Steffen Voss, co-CEO of Argor-Heraeus, said: “For Argor-Heraeus, this development lays the foundations for further growth through vertical integration, with new investment in facilities and workforce already in place.”
Overview of Argor-Heraeus
- Argor-Heraeus is one of Switzerland’s most important refineries. This pioneering refinery was founded in 1951 in the canton of Ticino.
- Initially under the management of Swiss bank USB, the refinery is now part of Heraeus Precious Metals (HMP), a global business headquartered in Germany.
- Precious metal bars are manufactured for end customers and wholesalers under the renowned Argor-Heraeus logo. These accredited gold, silver, platinum and palladium products all conform to international LBMA standards.
- Argor-Heraeus also produces semi-finished products for the jewellery industry and for exclusive watch manufacturers.
