Information on the end of 2024 from the Electroplating division

The year 2024 was also characterised by crises and a stagnating economy, especially in Germany. Although we also felt the effects, from a business point of view we can look back on a successful year. This is mainly thanks to our long-standing customers and partners. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks and look forward to realising successful projects together in the coming year as well.

We will be back in business on 2 January

We will be closed for annual leave from 21 December 2024 to 1 January 2025. Please bear in mind when planning your requirements that your orders will not be processed during this time. We will be available again as usual from Thursday, 2 January 2025.

Our highlights of 2024 – sustainable development in all directions 

With the establishment of our new subsidiary Umicore Suzhou Semiconductor Materials Co., Ltd. (USSM), our efforts to establish ourselves in the semiconductor market are taking concrete shape. Fifteen specialists have been working for several months in the new USSM headquarters in Suzhou, China, which offers ideal conditions for research and development in a space of over 1,000 square metres.

With the electrolytes of the PLATUNA® series, we have also created what is probably the most efficient and environmentally friendly layer system to date for porous transport layers (PTL) and bipolar plates (BPL) for electrolysers used to generate hydrogen. Our specially developed process does not require any corrosive or toxic chemicals, which, to the best of our knowledge, is a first for platinum coating on titanium components.

ARGUNA® 3230 and 3430 round off our range of environmentally friendly silver processes. They enable the deposition of silver layers without the use of toxic cyanides, which significantly reduces the safety risk for personnel and the environment.

No matter what application you need our products for, with Umicore's Nexyclus™ programme, we guarantee you the option of 100% high-quality recycled precious metal for your coating. This allows you to offer coatings that have a reduced CO2 footprint and have been responsibly obtained – which is of course confirmed by Nexyclus™ certificates from independent auditors.

In addition to the continuous improvement of our processes, these also increasingly reflect our commitment to sustainability. This is also confirmed by the renewed award of the EcoVadis Gold Award for our corporate social responsibility from an independent source.

Help instead of gifts

The many crises in the world, as well as fates in our immediate environment, require rapid action. For this reason, we decided years ago to increase our donations for charitable purposes or targeted aid in emergency situations – and are once again foregoing Christmas gifts for our customers and partners this year. This year, we will be able to provide well over €30,000 for appropriate projects.

The funds are used for a variety of purposes and to support both international and regional projects. As a rule, the projects are selected by our employees. For example, the German Red Cross was supported with €2,250 in its efforts to cope with the flood disaster in Turkey. In addition, the local knowledge workshop Gmünder Eule was supported with €5,000 to continue giving young people the opportunity to discover the field of technology for themselves.

We are also happy to give something back when our employees or their families suffer a stroke of fate or have positive experiences with aid organisations. This year, for example, we decided to take over a one-year sponsorship for a room in the Ronald McDonald House at the Heart Centre in Munich. The family of one of our long-standing chemical laboratory assistants found caring accommodation there for three weeks so that they could be close by during the birth and subsequent successful heart surgery of their newborn son.

We also want to give something back by releasing our employees for voluntary work in the field of education. All in all, we hope to have achieved something positive with all the selected projects and we would be delighted if this use of our funds is also in your interest.