Umicore: Electroforming as contract manufacturing for decorative applications
Umicore MDS is expanding its offering to include electroforming as a service and is planning to expand its infrastructure for subsequent mass production. Contract manufacturing is aimed at manufacturers of decorative precious metal applications such as jewelry, for example earrings or pendants for necklaces.
With this expanded offering, Umicore's Metal Deposition Solutions (MDS) business unit aims to facilitate access to electroforming in industrial quantities. Jewelry and accessory manufacturers will thus have an exciting option for implementing electroformed designs - from specification definition and sample production to scalable series and mass production. The aim is to provide access to series production of electroformed, hollow and therefore lightweight precious metal components - without the need to build up in-house plant and process resources.
Complete process takeover of electroforming
Umicore MDS is a manufacturer of electrolytes and electrodes for (precious metal) coatings and has decades of experience in electroforming. This process and chemical expertise forms the basis for the contract manufacturing service now on offer. If required, the company advises its customers on the definition of application-specific specifications even before the quotation phase in order to balance quality requirements and costs in the respective market segment. Typical parameters include the core material and removal route (thermal/chemical), the target wall thickness (usually 150-300 µm, higher for 24 carat), the precious metal composition or carburizing activity and the desired surface finish. The service itself includes the activation and preparation of the core (also known as a model, blank or mandrel), electrochemical deposition and core removal to produce self-supporting metal bodies. Umicore MDS uses its existing precious metal infrastructure and its Auruna and Platuna electrolytes specially developed for electroforming. This enables special price structures that make the service economically attractive.
Contract manufacturing for electroforming is being rolled out step by step
In electroforming, metal bodies are built up additively on a shaping core. Once deposition is complete, the core is removed to create hollow structures with a high level of detail and low weight. For many manufacturers, in-house electroforming series production is difficult to achieve economically and organizationally. High investments in equipment, the stockpiling of precious metals and chemicals, the need for specialized personnel as well as compliance with comprehensive EHS requirements and a permanently high capacity utilization are considered major hurdles. Umicore MDS plans to invest in facilities and infrastructure in order to expand capacity for large-volume orders. The rollout is planned in stages: Sampling and qualification should be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2026. The ramp-up to series production is planned by the end of 2026. Mass production across several lines should be possible from the beginning of 2027. Existing precious metal, analytical and quality assurance processes will be used to achieve reproducible results in all batches.