History
The history of Metallo Chimique N.V.
The beginning
18th July 1899
"Antwerp Chemical Works" was founded.
1908
After liquidation of "Antwerp Chemical Works", "La Compagnie des Métaux Rares", set up for the production of lead and antimony, built a production plant for copper sulphate.
1909
Liquidation of the copper sulphate production plant and “Compagnie des Métaux Rares” was transformed into “Métallurgie de la Campine”.
After WW I
"Métallurgie de la Campine" sold its buildings and yards to a newly founded company, "La Metallo-Chimique".
10th November 1919
Foundation of “La Metallo-Chimique N.V.” with the aim of treating and trading concentrates, metals and metallurgical products for the production of Cu sulphate.
The Twenties
By 1923 Metallo-Chimique N.V. was processing a wide variety of raw materials ranging from copper trouser studs to foundry and factory grindings. Consumption of copper scrap and concentrates reached 10 to 15 tonnes a day. Back then, the optimal hygienic conditions in the plant were well known. The rich vegetation surrounding the plant proved that no harmful gases were being emitted (source "Echo de la Bourse').
Production reaches 600 tonnes of copper sulphate per month with a level of purity able to compete with English and American qualities, then known as the purest in the world.
The company's primary customers were found in France and its colonial territories, England and North and South America.
The Thirties
In the late evening of 17th July 1933 a big fire broke out in a warehouse where material was dried, which caused enormous damage and made 250 employees temporarily lose their jobs.
After WWII
Copper salts were also produced
The Fifties
Industrial potential grew with the implementation of a new foundry for the recycling of copper scrap. The foundry was modernised and a tankhouse was set up. As copper ores are mainly sulphide ores, a roasting furnace and a sulphuric acid installation were also built.
The Sixties
The TBRC furnace was introduced (Top Blown Rotating Convertor). Little by little, a process was developed to recycle copper, tin and lead out of more complex raw materials.
The Seventies
A switch was made towards treatment of exclusively secondary raw materials. Up to 1974 tin is an impurity for Metallo-Chimique N.V. until the installation of the first Kaldo to slag out tin as well as lead and recover these metals in the form of 30/70 plumbing solder.
The Eighties
In 1983 the first vertical vacuum furnace was built for the production of 60/40 solder for the electronics industry. In the same year Metallo-Chimique International N.V. was founded for the procurement and purchasing of secondary raw materials and the sales and trading of non ferrous scraps and finished products.
A warehouse system was inaugurated to reach merchants in their own local markets and to offer them fast and flexible service. Main locations were established in Germany, the UK, France, Benelux, Ireland, Italy and Denmark. Southern countries were covered through our commercial department, Botrade SLU in Spain.
The Metallo-Chimique N.V. plant operated on a tolling basis for Metallo-Chimique International N.V. In 1986 the production of pure tin, lead and hard lead started in the Beerse plant. Metallo-Chimique NV has been actively involved in copper refining activities in Spain, and in the same year took over an existing copper refinery in Biscay. This included a secondary copper refinery based in Asua (close to Bilbao) and an electrolysis plant in Berango (about 5 km from the refinery). In 1988 the production of copper and nickel sulphate was completely stopped.
The Nineties
In 1991, the old Spanish refinery was shut down for both technological and environmental reasons. At the same time, a new company was created under the name Elmet SLU and the construction of a new smelter began in Berango to concentrate copper refining activities in one location.
The smelter operation started up in October 1992 with an initial production of about 1,500 tonnes of black copper granules on a monthly basis. The year after the same smelting operation was constructed in the Beerse plant.
2000
Owing to the combined efforts of the technical and commercial staff of the Metallo Group, smelting capacity of raw material at Elmet was boosted from 4,500 tonnes to 7,500 tonnes per month, allowing a production increase of black copper of more than 2,000 tonnes per month.
During the same period, emphasis was continuously placed on processing more complex and lower grade materials, while always complying with the strictest environmental standards.
2002
Due to falling metal markets, increasing market transparency and material flowing into the Asian continent, the warehouse network was drastically reduced, leaving only the warehouses in the UK to continue their activities. Also the tankhouse at Elmet was decommissioned at the end of the year.
2004
A new business plan was approved to set the scene for our future activities and resulted in the merger of Metallo Chimique N.V. and Metallo-Chimique International N.V. back into one structure: Metallo-Chimique N.V.
21st March 2007
The company changed shareholdership - the new Metallum Holding was founded, which incorporates not only Metallo-Chimique activities but also the trading activities of the Dietiker Group, now Metallum Group.
October 2008
New dust hall inaugurated.