melting - precious metal melting services

The Laboratory at the Birmingham Assay Office offers a fast efficient melting service for gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

Focussing mainly on scrap metals being recycled by the jewellery industry, the melting facility uses induction furnaces with a capacity to produce bars up to 8kgs from clean scrap, lemels and sweeps.

The Laboratory is independent, does not purchase materials and has no vested interest in the results. It is UKAS accredited, utilising traditional and modern techniques to deliver an accurate, independent, reliable melt and assay service with integrity guaranteed.

Dip sampling from the core of the molten metal provides highly accurate results. All remaining dip samples, together with any residues are returned to the Customer.

Fire assay procedures are followed for gold. Platinum, palladium, rhodium and silver content is determined by instrumental procedures such as ICP or potentiometric titration. These assay methods are independently accredited by UKAS.

Reports from The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office are widely accepted by all the major refiners and bullion dealers – enabling a straightforward and transparent sale of the bar. The Laboratory are happy to facilitate scrap delivery from one party and collection of the bar by a second party once the sale of the bar has been confirmed.

A same day melt and assay service is available for an additional charge. To melt and assay scrap containing gold, silver, platinum and palladium please call Tel: 0871 871 6020 or email: testing@theassayoffice.co.uk

The melting process

Upon receipt precious material is carefully weighed using calibrated balances accurate to 0.1 gram; all information is carefully recorded.

Scrap is melted in an induction furnace and sampled in a molten condition using vacuum sealed glass tubes

Two samples are taken - one for assay and another for future reference if required

The molten metal is poured into a mould and cooled rapidly to prevent segregation

The dip sample is assayed using the most appropriate method to achieve a highly accurate result

Assay results are presented on a certificate from The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office, widely recognized for integrity and reliability

The bar is weighed to complete the process and the unique Assay Certificate number is stamped on the bar

To learn more about the expertise and experience of the Melters in The Laboratory - click here >