40 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN COIN BLANKS MANUFACTURING

Epirus Metalworks was established in 1979, producing mainly military products such as case cartridge cups as well as copper strip in coils and coin blanks.

In 1983, the Company was acquired by the former EBO S.A. – now EAS S.A. – at which point production expanded and the Company penetrated new markets including Portugal, France, Finland, Sweden, Thailand, Israel, Poland and Greece.

In 1991, Epirus Metalworks launched a EUR 4.5 million strategic investment project which was completed in early 2001. The objective was to upgrade and optimise the existing machinery, as well as purchase new equipment, to increase the production capacity of all types of Euro coin blanks.

Thanks to this investment, 65% of the initial batch of high-quality coin blanks produced was purchased by the Bank of Greece and subsequently used to produce Euro coins. Furthermore, 100% of the first batch of high- quality inner and outer coin rings for the bi-colour 1 Euro and 2 Euro coins produced was also purchased by the Bank of Greece.

BLANKING
High Speed Blanking Line Schuler SAK-250

The blanks are cut out from a strip in coil at the end thickness. The blanks are then cleaned and dried. The punched strip is chopped and recycled (factory scrap).

RIMMING
High Performance Rimming Machine Schuler ST505

The cut blanks are rimmed to obtain the most important parameters, such as diameter, rimmed profile and edge form.

ANNEALING
Bak Annealing Furnace

The rimmed blanks are annealed under protective atmosphere. The produced blanks have the ideal conditions of hardness and grain size which allow an adequate minting process.

EDGE LETTERING
Edge Lettering Machine Schuler RS50

At this stage the coin blanks are edge lettered. (e.g. 2 Euro Outers blanks for rings of bi-colour of 2 Euro coin). It is also possible with special tooling, to manufacture any type of security edge, according to customers’ specifications and requirements.

PIERCING
Ringmaster Schuler MRV 150

This operation refers to the production of an outer ring which is achieving by eliminating the center of a normal monometallic coin blank thus obtaining a proper space to assemble in the same place another piece of a different metal. Alternatively, we have the ability to submit separated outer rings and inner blanks or assembled bimetallic (bi-colour) coin blanks.

PICKLING - POLISHING - DRYING
Pickling Polishing Machine Trowal CA-650

The annealed blanks are pickled, polished and dried to obtain a clean and bright surface ready for minting process.

INSPECTING - SORTING
Automatic Visual Inspection & Sorting Machine Proditec VISIA 100C

The blanks are inspected  on both sides for any possible surface defect. At the same time, the dimensions (diameter, rim thickness etc.) of coin blanks are checked. Any defective blank is automatically rejected into a scrap container. The defective blanks are recycled (factory scrap).

COUNTING - PACKING
Coin Counting Machine REIS

The inspected blanks are counted and charged to a protected packaging, avoiding moisture, oxidation and properly secured for land and sea transportation.