^{In Australia, Italian technology for The Perth Mint for the melting and solidification of the bar}

Italian ingenuity and technology have entered the Guinness World Records thanks to a project completed in Australia.

The Perth Mint, the historic refinery and mint of Western Australia, has been awarded the Guinness World Records title for the world’s largest gold bar, produced using a production system designed and built by the Italian IKOI Group, whose name has been engraved directly on the gold bar in recognition of the technological contribution it provided.

A key contribution came from the patented Flameless Tunnel® system developed by IKOI for the melting and solidification of the bar, together with the special graphite mould designed by the Graphite Hi Tech team, led by CEO Elena Ferraro and Chief Financial Officer Walter De Poli, which made it possible to produce an unprecedented gold bar while maintaining the highest degree of purity.

The Guinness World Records recognition ceremony was attended by Western Australia’s Minister for Mines Daniel Pastorelli, Governor Chris Dawson, Premier Roger Cook, the Consul of Italy in Perth Sergio Federico Nicolaci, the management of The Perth Mint, as well as Giovanni Faoro, Founder and Chairman of the IKOI Group, and CEO Michela Ferraro.

“This world record bears the signature of Italian ingenuity and technology. The contribution of the IKOI Group demonstrates how our country’s manufacturing and engineering know-how continues to play a leading role in the world’s most advanced industrial projects. The fact that The Perth Mint chose to engrave the IKOI name on the gold bar is recognition that goes far beyond its symbolic value: it means that the contribution of Italian industry will remain literally engraved on a work destined to be admired by millions of people,” said Giovanni Faoro, President of IKOI.

IKOI CEO Michela Ferraro added:

“It is tangible proof of how collaboration between Italy and Australia can generate outstanding results capable of leaving a lasting mark on the history of innovation.”

Owned by the Government of Western Australia, The Perth Mint is one of the world’s leading precious metals refineries and an internationally recognised benchmark for gold production and processing. It has collaborated with the IKOI Group for many years, using IKOI’s technologies and equipment in the precious metals refining and melting processes at its Perth facility. The Perth Mint refines approximately 70% of Australia’s mined gold, produces investment bars and coins exported worldwide, and also safeguards the gold reserves of numerous governments, central banks and institutional investors.