Belgian Gold Refinery Standardizes Intake with XRF

Standardizing incoming lot verification in Belgium

A leading gold refiner in Antwerp, Belgium, faced a common industry hurdle: payable percentage disputes with scrap suppliers. With large volumes of incoming material, traditional fire assay was too slow for immediate lot intake, while visual grading was too imprecise. To maintain ASTM compliance and ensure fair payouts, the refinery integrated WiserMachine’s WMK600 high-precision XRF analyzers into their standard receiving protocol.

The primary goal was to establish a “fast-track” verification system for incoming lots. By using a standardized batch sampling method, the refinery could verify the purity of a lot before it even reached the melting stage. This proactive approach significantly reduced the frequency of disputes over the final payable percentage, as both the refiner and the supplier could see the initial XRF results upon delivery.

Eliminating payable percentage disputes

Disputes often arise when the final melt weight and purity differ from the supplier’s expectations. By using the WMK600, the refinery was able to provide an immediate “purity snapshot” of the material. In one specific instance, a dispute regarding a 5kg lot of mixed jewelry was resolved instantly when the XRF identified a high concentration of silver and palladium that the supplier had failed to account for, adjusting the valuation by 1.5% in the supplier’s favor.

1. Material is weighed and logged upon arrival at the intake desk.
2. Randomized samples are selected from the lot for immediate XRF scanning.
3. The XRF generates a digital certificate of analysis (COA) for the intake lot.
4. The supplier reviews the COA and signs off on the preliminary valuation.

Ensuring ASTM and refinery standards

The refinery’s commitment to precision has led to a 15% increase in throughput at the intake station. The ability to quickly identify “difficult” lots—those containing high levels of deleterious elements like cadmium or lead—allows the refinery to segregate material and optimize their refining processes. This level of technical oversight is detailed in our comprehensive XRF guide, which outlines the best practices for industrial metal verification.

Ultimately, the deployment of WiserMachine technology has transformed the refinery’s relationship with its suppliers. By providing transparent, data-driven intake data, the refiner has fostered a higher level of trust, ensuring long-term stability in their supply chain. The accuracy of the WMK600 ensures that every gram of precious metal is accounted for, maintaining the refinery’s reputation for excellence in the European market.