- Valterra Platinum and Umicore’s Business Unit Metal Deposition Solutions (MDS) have entered a multi-year R&D and commercialisation partnership focused on developing platinum group metal (PGM) solutions for industrial applications of electroplating
- The collaboration will help develop new opportunities for PGMs, supporting long-term market development beyond the automotive sector, particularly catalysts
Credit: Valterra Platinum / Umicore MDS
Michael Herkommer (Vice President) and Bernd Weyhmueller (Lab Manager, R&D) from Umicore MDS, as well as Nimit Shah (Market Development) and Mark Freed (Global Head MD) from Valterra Platinum (f.l.t.r.), are looking forward to the agreed partnership
Valterra Platinum and Umicore MDS have commenced a new collaboration to accelerate the development and commercialisation of PGM-based electroplating technologies aimed at high-value industrial applications.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating new, sustainable sources of demand for PGMs as the automotive landscape continues to evolve. It builds upon many years’ experience of industrial collaboration and expanding engagement with fabricators by Valterra Platinum.
Under the agreement, Valterra Platinum will invest up to EUR2.5 million over an initial three-year period and will work alongside Umicore MDS to advance technologies from laboratory research towards commercial readiness. Umicore MDS will contribute equivalent value through R&D services, drawing on its deep expertise in materials chemistry, surface technologies and industrial scale-up.
The initial R&D programme will concentrate on high-speed platinum electroplating, particularly in the electronics segment such as connector applications. This application represents a sizeable market in which platinum could provide a competitive, cost-effective and durable alternative to gold, which has current industrial demand of more than 300 tonnes per year. Additional projects and strategic partners may be introduced over time.
Craig Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Valterra Platinum, said: “As one of the world’s leading PGMs producers, we are focused on building sustainable, long-term demand for PGMs by partnering with industry leaders who can turn innovation into reality. Umicore’s expertise in surface technologies and commercialisation makes them an ideal partner to unlock new PGM applications in electronics and other opportunity areas. This collaboration reflects our disciplined approach to market development and our belief in the power of targeted, high-quality partnerships.”
Michael Herkommer, Vice President of Umicore’s Metal Deposition Solutions, added: “Valterra Platinum has a clear vision to establish platinum as an attractive material for a broader range of industrial sectors beyond its traditional markets. At Umicore MDS, as a global leader in precious metal-based surface finishing solutions, we bring our expertise and market insight required to identify emerging trends and translate them into scalable processes. This partnership allows us to focus on the targeted development of innovative solutions that will result in platinum coatings that match the performance of other precious metal finishes while offering significantly improved economic efficiency.”