GINALMAZZOLOTO is a leader in all the main areas of its activity in the precious metals sector, including production of monocrystals of PGMs and high-melting point rare metals. The Institute is capable of producing up to 300 different such items, whilst leading foreign competitors produce only up to 30. Crucibles produced from monocrystalline iridium are remarkably resistant in the aggressive environment encountered during smelting at temperatures of 2100 degr. C. The manufacture of catalytic elements for neutralising exhaust gases and industrial effluents, based on the Institute's know-how, allows the replacement of the technologically complicated stage of covering the carrier band with chrome-aluminium steel or with an aluminium oxide coating. The same technology provides a solution for yet another problem of great importance: the substitution of platinum gauzes applied to devices for ammonia oxidation during production of nitric acid and nitric fertilisers.

Since 1998 GINALMAZZOLOTO has been working on new generations of platinum-based catalytic systems and optimising the associated fabrication technologies. In parallel, Institute's staff carry out performance tests of the new catalysts. The completion of this project will signify a qualitative shift in the technology of nitric acid production, a move that has been expected for almost 100 years. It will widen the application field for the newly created catalysts, in particular - the catalysts created for the contact phase of sulphuric acid production, for formaldehyde production out of methanol, for hard fats processes, for natural oils hydration, for application in industrial and automobile exhaust gas neutralisers, and others.

The fulfilment of this project will lead to the creation in Russia of a new production base for fabrication of platinum catalytic and catchment gauzes for ammonia conversion reactors, with an increased resistance of these new products to catalytic corrosion and decay.

The industrial scale titanium-platinum anodes fabricated by the Institute and tested over 5 years by "Heraeus AG", have demonstrated highest lifetimes, along with a considerably lower consumption of platinum, as compared with the analogue materials in various fields of chemistry and metallurgy produced by competitors.

The catalogue of PGM compounds and salts, which are within GINALMAZZOLOTO's production potentials, amounts to approximately 100 items.

The Institute was the first in the USSR to create the technology for oxide and metallic powders production from precious metals and alloys, with pre-set physical and chemical properties for micro-electronics and established the industrial production of these materials.

Experience has been accumulated related to creation of the contents of alloys based on PGMs and associated production technology for use in jewellery. Over recent years, GINALMAZZOLOTO and the "K. Tsiolkovsky Moscow Technological Institute" have joined forces in the development of fine metallic fibres of heavy non-ferrous and noble metals having an amorphous structure. As a result, new opportunities have been created for the application of such metals and alloys.

The most significant developments of GINALMAZZOLOTO, which have found application in industry, are shown, in the table.

This industrial application enabled additional production and saving of tens of tons of platinum group metals, and therefore provided for almost USD 1 billion in additional revenues.