| Umicore N.V. | |
|---|---|
| |
| Partner Information | |
| Based |  Brussels, Belgium
|
| Founder | 1989 |
| Announced | 18 February 2019[1] |
| Role | Battery Recycling Supplier |
| Official Website | Umicore |
Umicore N.V., stylised as umicore, is a Belgian based multinational materials technology company, specialising in refining and recycling precious metals.[2] Founded in 1989 after the merger of four mining and smelting industries, Umicore is one of Belgium's most important business and a founding member of the BEL20 stock market index.[2]
Umicore first became involved in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship during the 2018/19 season, signing a multi-year partnership deal with Formula E Holdings to recycle the batteries used in 2014/15 and 2015/16.[1]
Background[]
Umicore's origin is found in the era of colonialism, with the Union Minière du Haut Katanga (UMHK) a principle factor.[2] The company, originally incorporated in 1906, was founded to exploit natural resources in the Congo Free State (later the Belgian Congo), and came to hold a near-global monopoly on uranium.[2] By 1967 UMHK held more than half the revenue produced by the Congo, resulting in then President Mobutu Sese Seko to nationalise the firm.[2]
Fallout and Reform[]
The seizure of over $800 million worth of assets left UMHK on the verge of bankruptcy, although the group managed to survive following a transfer of ownership.[2] The group subsequently found itself under the control of the Société Générale de Belgique, which placed the firm in their mining and metal refining investments.[2] UMHK was renamed as Union Minière, and duly began to grow to one of the largest firms in the SGB with interests in various refining sectors.[2]
Union Minière's success led the SGB to merge the group with three other business, forming Acec-Union Minière in 1989.[2] Streamlining through the 1990s saw the group ultimately renamed as Umicore in 2001, with a switch away from mining to clean technologies coming in the early 2000s.[2] Umicore subsequently became The Global 100's "Most Sustainable Company in the World" in 2013, with interests in recycling, emission control catalysts and renewable energy.[2]
Formula E History[]
Umicore were one of a number of companies to be consulted by various entrants in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship about the use of batteries, and duly partnered with Mahindra Racing during the 2017/18 season.[3] The Belgian firm would subsequently be contacted by FE's overseers Formula E Holdings about recycling the first generation of batteries at the end of the same campaign, with the new Spark SRT05e using a new battery pack developed by McLaren Applied Technologies.[4] Umicore subsequently signed a deal with FEH midway through the 2018/19 season, becoming the series' 'official battery recycling supplier' on a multi-year contract.[1]
Products[]
Umicore serve as the series' 'official battery recycling supplier', and hence provide no official products to the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
References[]
Videos and Images:
References:
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 'Formula E teams up with Umicore to start battery recycling programme', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 18/02/2019), https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2019/february/umicore-battery-programe, (Accessed 18/02/2019)
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 'History', umicore.com, (Umicore N.V., 2019), https://www.umicore.com/en/about/history/#background, (Accessed 18/02/2019)
- ↑ 'Umicore and Voxdale are proud to announce a partnership with Mahindra Racing in the Formula E Championship', umicore.com, (Umicore N.V., 09/11/2017), https://www.umicore.com/en/media/press/20171109mahindraumicorevoxdaleen, (Accessed 18/02/2019)
- ↑ 'FIA puts Formula E battery and chassis supply out to tender', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 04/03/2016), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2016/march/fia-puts-formula-e-battery-and-chassis-supply-out-to-tender.aspx, (Accessed 31/01/2018)
| FIA Formula E Partners |
|---|
| Institutional |
| Formula E Holdings • Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile • ABB |
| Founding |
| BMW • DHL • Michelin • Qualcomm • Renault • TAG Heuer |
| Other |
| Aggreko • Antofagasta Minerals • Google Cloud • Julius Bär • PIF • Sabic • Saudia • TATA Communications • Tattinger |
| Spark Technical Partners (Generation 3) |
| Spark Racing Technologies • Brembo • Dallara • Hankook • Hewland • Lucid Motors • Fortescue Zero |
| Spark Technical Partners (Generation 4) |
| Spark Racing Technologies • Brembo • Bridgestone • Dallara • Marelli • Podium AT |
| Former Partners |
| 1st Round • Allianz • Bosch • CNBC • Cooper Co. • Enel • Heineken • Hugo Boss • McLaren • Modis • Rimac Automobili • Umicore • voestalpine |