Jeweller - May 2021

Reset & Refine | CASTING AND REFINING FEATURE
www.morrisandwatson.com
NEW ZEALAND | 0800 500 654
AUSTRALIA | 1800 469 088
INVESTING IN
INNOVATION
Top Tech
L to R: ABC Bullion; Peter W Beck
ABC Refinery is
the benchmark in
Australian ecofriendly
refining.
In 2021, it invested in
an additional 175kg
acidless separation
refining technology
to service the valueadded
demand”
Chemgold
While electrowinning – the process of separating
metals from impurities – may not have drastically
changed from its discovery in the 1800s, there are
new efficiencies to be had.
“Efficiencies can be gained by good material
management and procedural management,” Beck
adds. “The art of a refiner is to take the timeless
principles of electrowinning and chemistry and by
using the best equipment and practices, to make
the process as efficient as possible.”
There are some exciting developments in this
space. Van Sambeek said Morris & Watson has
invested in more environmentally friendly
processes in order to recover 80 per cent of
the nitric acid from the fume stream before it
reaches the chemical scrubbers.
“This dramatically reduces the workload on
scrubbers, eliminating potential environmental
contaminates and recovers acid that can now be
recycled,” Van Sambeek said.
“We are expanding the use of this technology to
recycle even more chemicals.
“We’ve also invested in a state-of-the-art furnace
for burning sweeps. This world leading furnace
technology results in a cleaner more efficient
use of energy.”
Van Sambeek said these solutions are economically
responsible – both financially prudent and better for
the environment.
“Over the past two years we’ve been upgrading our
refining facility with the latest European technology.
“There are improved processes, reducing
handling of harmful chemicals and a much cleaner
and efficient output. It’s safer for staff and the
environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Botha says, “ABC Refinery is the largest
independent precious metals refining facility in
Australasia. ABC Refinery is the benchmark in
Australian eco-friendly refining.
“In 2021, it invested in an additional 175kg acidless
separation (ALS) refining technology to service the
value-added demand.”
He added, “ALS is the world’s most environmentally
safe refining technology and produces no noxious
residue. ABC Refinery is the only Australian
refinery that employs this technology.”
In addition, ABC Refinery’s technology is – uniquely
– accredited by the National Association of
Testing Authorities, International Organization for
Standardization, Commission Électrotechnique
Internationale, Australian Standards and
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation.
The Perth Mint has also made strides in
its environmental policy, appointing a chief
sustainability officer and “actively participating” in
the West Australian government’s “carbon neutral
future” strategy.
Technology breakthroughs
in the field of casting are
creating new opportunities
for jewellers, including designs
previously thought to be
impossible”
In addition, Hayes says, “Capital investment at the
Mint’s refinery has amounted to $36 million over
the past 10 years, with $17 million of this being
invested over the last four years.
“Spend has been spread across new equipment,
increased capacity and improved environmental
management.”
He adds, “A new assay laboratory was
commissioned a few years ago, equipped with the
latest state of the art equipment and technology
to ensure its assays and return of metal to
customers is of the highest accuracy.
Additionally, “Automation is regularly adopted
to ensure repetitive or potentially dangerous
tasks are performed by machines, minimising or
eliminating the risk of injury to employees.”
Beyond the human hand
From the design side of jewellery production,
technology breakthroughs in the field of casting
are creating new opportunities for jewellers,
including designs previously thought to be
impossible.
This is being driven by improvements in 3D
printing; a technology that has had a dramatic
effect on the industry over the past 10 years. The
fall in cost of the average 3D printer, alongside
the increasing detail now possible in prints, is
leading to significant achievements.
One example is the ‘arms race’ in breaking the
world record for the most diamonds set in a ring.
Hallmark Jewellers, based in Hyderabad, India,
unveiled ‘The Divine’ in September last year,
which features 7,801 set diamonds, arranged
in a flower design.
However, they did not hold on to the record
very long, with Renani Jewels, from Meerut,
India, displaying ‘Marigold’ just a few months
later, set with 12,638 diamonds – demolishing
the previous record.
These feats have been possible largely thanks
to advances in 3D printing. Imaginarium, an
Indian 3D printing service, played a critical role
in creating the mould from which ‘The Divine’
was cast.
The company is working to push the limits of
what can be achieved in casting, and producing
moulds that would be impossible to do by hand.
“The sheer amount of design freedom that 3D
printing brings with it is incredible, so much
that complexity of a design is no longer a factor
in manufacturing,” Kamlesh Parekh, founder
Imaginarium, recently wrote.
“Designers now have options to experiment
with abstract patterns and shapes that make for
visually striking pieces of jewellery.
“If a designer can produce it on a computer, the
3D printer will print it, no questions asked.”
Jewellers closer to home can take advantage of
more practical and realistic benefits offered by
3D printing, with several casting houses offering
the service.
In October last year Palloys, AGS, PJW, Regentco
Chris Botha
Palloys
[The Perth Mint’s
assay laboratory is
equipped with] the
latest state of the
art equipment and
technology to ensure
its assays and return
of metal to customers
is of the highest
accuracy”
Richard Hayes
The Perth Mint
Over the past two
years we’ve been
upgrading our
refining facility with
the latest European
technology...
It’s safer for staff and
the environment”
Adam Van
Sambeek
Morris & Watson
The sheer amount
of design freedom
that 3D printing
[casting moulds]
brings with it is
incredible, so much
that complexity
of a design is no
longer a factor in
manufacturing”
Kamlesh
Parekh
Imaginarium
and A&E Metals – all part of the Pallion
group of companies – launched a new all in
one platform that allows jewellers to place
customised 3D print orders.
The platform, which took two years to design
and implement, allows jewellers to upload
a CAD file and receive an instant quote for
a finished piece, including everything from
print to mould, casting and finishing.
“The instant quoting for CAD files, casting
from their own mould library, fabricated
metals and diamonds allows jewellers to
enjoy accurate and instant quotes they
can pass onto their customers, giving the
jewellers an instant competitive advantage,”
Alison Habbal, assistant operations manager
– jewellery at Palloys told Jeweller at
the time.
Botha adds, “Palloys.com is significantly
outperforming the previous website and has
already exceeded expectations within the
business and industry.
“Palloys’ customers can now order a
customised piece, including certified
diamonds, online and receive them as a
raw cast, semi-finished or fully finished.
“We also offer desprue and tumble options
for castings which have been very popular
since launching the website.
We have seen online orders for the jewellery
division more than double in the new year as
more people adopt the platform.”
Elsewhere, Botha notes that the Palloys
research and development department has
also been working on “direct metal printing
for the bullion and jewellery sector, and
adding subtractive prototyping back into our
manufacturing processes.”
Unstable metal prices have emphasised
the important of efficient and effective
refining, and new technologies are allowing
jewellers to customise pieces to a level that
was previously impossible. Both of these
developments will be important to meet the
needs of customers in 2021 and beyond.
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35 | May 2021
Refining | Bullion | Fabrication | CAD/CAM | Casting | Chain