TANAKA Succeeds in Developing World’s First High-Entropy Alloy Powder Composed Only of Precious Metals

TOKYO, Oct 25, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), which develops industrial precious metals products as one of the core companies of TANAKA Precious Metals, announced that it has succeeded in creating a high-entropy alloy powder composed of precious metals with a fine particle size of 10µm or less high crystallinity and excellent composition uniformity. This product is the world’s first high-entropy alloy powder composed of only five precious metals: platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), iridium (Ir), ruthenium (Ru), and rhodium (Rh). TANAKA has already established a mass production process for this product and plans to begin providing samples in October.

TANAKA has established five or more precious metal alloy powders and their production methods, which are used in this product, and obtained a basic patent in June 2023 (Patent No. 7300565)[1]. The precious metal alloy powders in this product are alloys composed only of five or more precious metal elements that maintain the corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and other excellent properties of precious metals. They are micro-order[2] alloy powders that are easy to use in industrial applications. Unlike conventional nano-order precious metal high-entropy alloys, micro-order alloys are stable as alloys due to their large crystallite size, and they satisfy the original requirements of alloys, such as improved mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and controlled thermal expansion. They are also expected to contribute to the improvement of the functions and properties of precious metal alloys, whose properties vary greatly depending on the composition ratio of the alloy.

The precious metal alloy in this product is in powder form, and in addition to modeling using a 3D printer and rod forming (forming rod-shaped material by solidifying powder), it can also be used in paste form, which is often used in various circuits and sensors. Furthermore, the high strength and high heat resistance properties of high-entropy alloys are expected to be utilized in catalysts and conductive films that require high durability, among other applications.

[1] Patent related to high-entropy alloy powder granted on June 29, 2023 (Patent No. 7300565). The precious metal alloy powder in this product is defined as (1) precious metal alloy powder consisting of an alloy of five or more precious metal elements, (2) average particle size of 10µm or less, (3) crystallite size of 60nm or more, and (4) one peak observed in the range of diffraction angle 2θ of 38 to 44° in the X-ray diffraction spectrum.

[2] Order: A term used in physics, engineering, and other fields to roughly express the magnitude of a number. It represents the number of digits or degrees of a unit.

Component and surface analysis of high-entropy alloy powder

X-ray diffraction spectra of high-entropy alloy powder and various precious metal powders

About High-Entropy Alloys

High-entropy alloys are alloys containing five or more elements in equal amounts and are characterized by the absence of major elements that make up most of the alloy. They have been attracting attention as a new category of metallic materials in recent years. Research and development on high-entropy alloys is being actively conducted worldwide, as the properties of the metals and precious metals contained in these alloys can simultaneously produce properties such as high strength and high heat resistance, as well as the possibility of creating new properties.

About TANAKA Precious Metals

Since its foundation in 1885, TANAKA Precious Metals has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volumes of precious metals handled. Over the course of many years, TANAKA has not only manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry but also provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and around the world collaborate and cooperate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,355 employees, the group’s consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, was 680 billion yen.

Global industrial business website
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/

Product inquiries
TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-on-industrial-products/

Press inquiries
TANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd.
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/

Press Release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20231025EN.pdf

GPT-4 artificial intelligence shows some competence in chemistry

TSUKUBA, Japan, Oct 17, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – GPT-4, the latest version of the artificial intelligence system from OpenAI, the developers of Chat-GPT, demonstrates considerable usefulness in tackling chemistry challenges, but still has significant weaknesses. “It has a notable understanding of chemistry, suggesting it can predict and propose experimental results in ways akin to human thought processes,” says chemist Kan Hatakeyama-Sato, at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Hatakeyama-Sato and his colleagues discuss their exploration of the potential of GPT-4 in chemical research in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods.

Researchers investigated the chemistry knowledge and capabilities of GPT-4, the latest version of OpenAI's artificial intelligence model. (Credit: Growtika via Unsplash) — Researchers investigated the chemistry knowledge and capabilities of GPT-4, the latest version of OpenAI’s artificial intelligence model. (Credit: Growtika via Unsplash)

GPT-4, which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4, belongs to a category of artificial intelligence systems known as large language models. These can gather and analyse vast quantities of information in search of solutions to challenges set by users. One advance for GPT-4 is that it can use information in the form of images in addition to text.

Although the specific datasets used for training GPT-4 have not been disclosed by its developers, it has clearly learned a significant amount of detailed chemistry knowledge. To analyse its capabilities, the researchers set the system a series of chemical tasks focused on organic chemistry – the chemistry of carbon-based compounds. These covered basic chemical theory, the handling of molecular data, predicting the properties of chemicals, the outcome of chemical processes and proposing new chemical procedures.

The results of the investigation were varied, revealing both strengths and significant limitations. GPT-4 displayed a good understanding of general textbook-level knowledge in organic chemistry. It was weak, however, when set tasks dealing with specialized content or unique methods for making specific organic compounds. It displayed only partial efficiency in interpreting chemical structures and converting them into a standard notation. One interesting feat was its ability to make accurate predictions for the properties of compounds that it had not specifically been trained on. Overall, it was able to outperform some existing computational algorithms, but fell short against others.

“The results indicate that GPT-4 can tackle a wide range of tasks in chemical research, spanning from textbook-level knowledge to addressing untrained problems and optimizing multiple variables,” says Hatakeyama-Sato. “Inevitably, its performance relies heavily on the quality and quantity of its training data, and there is much room for improvement in its inference capabilities.”

The researchers emphasise that their work was only a preliminary investigation, and that future research should broaden the scope of the trials and dig deeper into the performance of GPT-4 in more diverse research scenarios.

They also hope to develop their own large language models specializing in chemistry and explore their integration with existing techniques.

“In the meantime, researchers should certainly consider applying GPT-4 to chemical challenges, possibly using hybrid methods that include existing specialized techniques,” Hatakeyama-Sato concludes.

Further information:

Kan Hatakeyama-Sato, Email: hatakeyama.k.ac@m.titech.ac.jp, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Teruaki Hayakawa, Email: hayakawa.t.ac@m.titech.ac.jp, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/27660400.2023.2260300

About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods (STAM-M)

STAM Methods is an open access sister journal of Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM), and focuses on emergent methods and tools for improving and/or accelerating materials developments, such as methodology, apparatus, instrumentation, modeling, high-through put data collection, materials/process informatics, databases, and programming. https://www.tandfonline.com/STAM-M

Dr Yasufumi Nakamichi, STAM Publishing Director, Email: NAKAMICHI.Yasufumi@nims.go.jp

Press release distributed by Asia Research News for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

JE Cleantech – Singapore-based Precision Cleaning Leader Sees Growth in Revenue and Net Income in H1 2023

SINGAPORE, Oct 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – JE Cleantech Holdings Limited (“JE Cleantech” or “JCSE” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: JCSE), a leading Singaporean cleantech and precision engineering company, today released its financial results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023 (“H1 2023”). The Company has experienced significant growth in revenue and net income compared to the corresponding period last year (“H1 2022”), reflecting its commitment to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions in the cleaning technology sector.

In H1 2023, JCSE’s revenue experienced an increase of approximately 22.5% compared to H1 2022 to achieve approximately S$8.8 million (US$6.5 million) of sales. The growth was driven by nearly 50% increase in sales of cleaning systems and other equipment. JCSE also recorded a net income of approximately S$0.3 million (US$0.21 million) in H1 2023, demonstrating an approximately 89.8% climb from approximately S$0.15 million (US$0.1 million) in H1 2022. The Company attributes its revenue and profit growth to its solid customer base and changing demand dynamics. Leveraging its expanded customer base through strategic efforts, the Company managed to receive recurring and new orders for the precision cleaning systems.

“2023 has so far been a very promising year for the precision cleaning business”, shared Elise Hong Bee Yin, Founder and CEO of JE Cleantech. “We remain committed to our pursuit of excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth. By adapting to market changes, enhancing customer relationships, and closely monitoring cost dynamics, we aim to continue our trajectory of success.”

The results follow a strong 2022 financial performance from JCSE. With the foundation laid in the first half of the year, JCSE is looking to build upon its success through strategic expansion of its business in new markets. The Company remains committed to Singapore as a priority market while monitoring opportunities overseas. In H1 2023, JCSE stepped up its green efforts by implementing sustainable initiatives in its production, such as installing solar panels in its main facility and enhancing the recycling process. The Company also partnered with a Singapore deep-tech manufacturer to develop cleaning robots in an effort to diversify its product offerings. JCSE is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable solutions in the global market.

About JE Cleantech Holdings Limited

JE Cleantech Holdings Limited is based in Singapore and is principally engaged in (i) the sale of precision cleaning systems and other equipment; and (ii) the provision of centralized dishwashing and ancillary services. Through its subsidiary, JCS-Echigo Pte Ltd, the company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells cleaning systems for various industrial end-use applications primarily to customers in Singapore and Malaysia. Its cleaning systems are mainly designed for precision cleaning, with features such as particle filtration, ultrasonic or megasonic rinses with a wide range of frequencies, high pressure drying technology, high flow rate spray, and deionized water rinses, which are designed for effective removal of contaminants and to minimize particle generation and entrapment. The Company also has provided centralized dishwashing services, through its subsidiary, Hygieia Warewashing Pte Ltd, since 2013 and general cleaning services since 2015, both mainly for food and beverage establishments in Singapore. For more information about JE Cleantech, please visit our website: www.jecleantech.sg.

Disclaimer: Forward looking statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such words or phrases as “should,” “intends,” “is subject to,” “expects,” “will,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “estimated,” “projected,” “may,” “I or we believe,” “future prospects,” “our strategy,” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements made in this press release that relate to our future contract revenues among other things involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those expected and stated in this announcement. We undertake no obligation to update “forward-looking” statements.

For Media Enquiries and Investor Relations, please contact:
enquiry@jecleantech.sg

Meta Materials and Panasonic Industry Collaborate on Next Generation Transparent Conductive Materials

NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA and OSAKA, JAPAN, Sept 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Meta Materials Inc. (the Company or META) (NASDAQ:MMAT), an advanced materials and nanotechnology company and a leading solution provider in the field of multi-functional transparent conductive materials, and Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Industry), an operating company in charge of device business within the Panasonic Group with a proprietary and scalable process technology which delivers fine line low resistance and high transparency conductive films, have been jointly developing a strategic collaboration from design to mass production. This joint effort is expected to strengthen the supply of NANOWEB® films and accelerate the growth of the transparent conductive film industry, offering new applications for the automotive and consumer electronics sectors, such as transparent film antennas, transparent film heaters, and transparent film electromagnetic shielding.

Today there is an emerging need for ultra-low sheet resistance and high optical performance, especially required for large area applications such as flexible solar cells, smart windows for next generation communications and transparent heaters for automotive applications. According to BCC Research, the global market for transparent conductive films is projected to grow at a 9.2% CAGR, from $4.9 billion in 2020, to $7.6 billion by 2025.

“Our strategic collaboration with Panasonic Industry represents a pivotal moment for META. We have selected Panasonic Industry to mass produce our patented designs due to their outstanding process technology, coupled with their automotive-grade quality, which supports our common goal to expand the transparent conductive materials sector,” stated George Palikaras, President and CEO of META. “This collaboration allows us to pool our collective know-how, setting new benchmarks for the industry.”

Panasonic Industry’s low resistance and high transmittance transparent conductive film has been mass-produced since 2018 in response to the demand for high performance and upsizing touch sensors. META has been successfully working with Panasonic Industry under a Master Services Agreement for several months, resulting in the successful qualification and production of several NANOWEB® proprietary designs for various applications.

Panasonic Industry’s Director of Touch Solutions Business Unit Yuichi Yoshikawa, expressed equal enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to join forces with META to push the boundaries of transparent conductive materials. This collaboration will be able to provide unprecedented value to the world with the most advanced solutions. Together, we will create new possibilities for various applications, and the industry.”

The collaboration between META and Panasonic Industry combines the design power of NANOWEB® metal mesh designs with Panasonic Industry’s leading proprietary and scalable process technology in transparent conductive films. Together, they will offer cutting-edge alternatives that surpass industry standards and set new benchmarks.

Panasonic Industry and Meta Materials will be showcasing at the Panasonic Industry booth at CEATEC 2023, Japan’s leading comprehensive technology exhibition, from October 17 to 20, 2023. The partners will demonstrate a microwave oven with a transparent EMI shielding window, transparent antennas, and transparent heaters for deicing and defogging of automotive ADAS sensors. These demonstrations will highlight the superior performance and versatility of the metal mesh solutions developed through this collaboration.

About Us:

Meta Materials Inc. (META) is an advanced materials and nanotechnology company. We develop new products and technologies using innovative sustainable science. Advanced materials can improve everyday products that surround us, making them smarter and more sustainable. META® technology platforms enable global brands to develop new products to improve performance for customers in aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, 5G communications, batteries, authentication, and automotive and clean energy. Learn more at www.metamaterial.com.

Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd. was established on April 1, 2022, as an operating company in charge of the device business within the Panasonic Group in line with its shift to an operating company system. The mission of the company states that “We will open the way to a better future and continue to contribute to an affluent society through a variety of device technologies.” On a global basis, the company has about 42,000 employees and achieved net sales of 1,149.9 billion yen for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. Against the backdrop of a labor shortage in manufacturing, the explosion of data with the rise of the information-based society, and greater demands for the environment and safety for the mobility society, the company will focus on areas where ongoing evolution is required and continue to provide customer value with distinctive features of unique material and process technologies such as capacitors, compact servomotors, EV relays, and electronic materials. Learn more about Panasonic Industry at https://www.panasonic.com/global/industry.

Media Inquiries:
Rob Stone
Vice President, Corporate Development and Communications
Meta Materials Inc.
media@metamaterial.com

Investor Contact
Mark Komonoski
Senior Vice President
Integrous Communications
Phone: 1-877-255-8483
Email: ir@metamaterial.com

Panasonic Industry Press Contact
Corporate Communication Team
Management Planning Department
Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd.
Email: press-industry@ml.jp.panasonic.com

Forward Looking Information

This press release includes forward-looking information or statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding META, which may include, but are not limited to, statements or implications with respect to the business strategies, product development, expansion plans and operational activities of META.

This press release also includes forward-looking information or statements about Panasonic Industry. To the extent that information or statements in this press release do not relate to historical or current facts, they constitute forward-looking information or statements for Panasonic Industry.

Often but not always, forward-looking information or statements may be identified by the use of words such as “pursuing”, “potential”, “predicts”, “projects”, “seeks”, “plans”, “expect”, “intends”, “anticipated”, “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “should”, “would” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of the management of META and Panasonic Industry and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although the management of META and Panasonic Industry believe that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting META and Panasonic Industry, the capabilities of our facilities and the expansion thereof, research and development projects of META and Panasonic Industry, the total available market and market potential of the products of META and Panasonic Industry, the market position of META and Panasonic Industry, the need to raise more capital and the ability to do so, the scalability of META’s and Panasonic Industry’s production ability, capacity for new customer engagements, material selection programs timeframes, the ability to reduce production costs, enhance metamaterials manufacturing capabilities and extend market reach into new applications and industries, the ability to accelerate commercialization plans, the possibility of new customer contracts, the continued engagement of our employees, the technology industry, market strategic and operational activities, and management’s ability to manage and to operate the business.

More details about these and other risks that may impact META’s businesses are described under the heading “Forward-Looking Information” and under the heading “Risk Factors” in META’s 10-K filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023, in META’s Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023, with an SEC filing date of March 24, in META’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 9, 2023, and in subsequent filings made by Meta Materials Inc. with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Although the META and Panasonic Industry have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information or statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information or statements. No forward-looking information or statements can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking information or statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and META and Panasonic Industry do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

JE Cleantech Holdings Limited Announces $1,000,000 Stock Repurchase Program

SINGAPORE, Sep 6, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – JE Cleantech Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: JCSE) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $1,000,000 of the Company's outstanding Ordinary Shares, par value $0.001 per share. This program will commence immediately.

"This new stock repurchase program reflects the Board's and management's confidence in our improving operating results, future growth prospects, and business strategy to continue to create long-term value for our shareholders," commented Elise Hong, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer.

The Board's authorization permits JCSE to repurchase shares from time to time in open market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, or by other means in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The actual timing, number, and value of shares repurchased by JCSE under the program will be determined by management at its sole discretion. Repurchases will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of JCSE's shares, general market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other cash needs. The repurchase program may be suspended, terminated, or modified at any time for any reason, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity, and other appropriate factors.

About JE Cleantech Holdings Limited

JE Cleantech Holdings Limited is based in Singapore and is principally engaged in (i) the sale of cleaning systems and other equipment; and (ii) the provision of centralized dishwashing and ancillary services. Through its subsidiary, JCS-Echigo Pte Ltd, the Company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells cleaning systems for various industrial end-use applications, primarily to customers in Singapore and Malaysia. Its cleaning systems are mainly designed for precision cleaning, with features such as particle filtration, ultrasonic or megasonic rinses with a wide range of frequencies, high-pressure drying technology, high flow rate spray, and deionized water rinses, which are designed for effective removal of contaminants and to minimize particle generation and entrapment. The Company also has provided centralized dishwashing services through its subsidiary, Hygieia Warewashing Pte Ltd, since 2013 and general cleaning services since 2015, both mainly for food and beverage establishments in Singapore. For more information about JE Cleantech, please visit our website: www.jecleantech.sg.

Disclaimer: Forward looking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements under federal securities laws, and the Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby. All statements, other than statements of fact included in this release, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, that JCSE will repurchase shares from time to time, with the details determined by JCSE's management depending on market price, economic conditions, legal requirements, and cash needs. We caution that these statements are qualified by important risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Such factors include, among others the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022. Except to the extent required by federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For Media Enquiries and Investor Relations, please contact:
jcse@preciouscomms.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

JE Cleantech Announces Voting Results Of Its Extraordinary General Meeting

SINGAPORE, Sep 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – JE Cleantech Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: JCSE) today announced the results of the Company's Extraordinary General Meeting of Members (the "Extraordinary Meeting") held on August 29, 2023, at the Company's offices located at 3 Woodlands Sector 1, Singapore.

At the Extraordinary Meeting, the members approved and authorized a consolidation of the Company's Ordinary Shares ("Reverse Stock Split") of the Company's issued Ordinary Shares in a range from 1 for 1.5 to 1 for 10 Ordinary Shares (the "Range"). The Board of Directors may elect to either: (i) effect the Reverse Stock Split; or (ii) not effect the Reverse Stock Split; within the Range at any time during the next 12 months.

The Company may effect the Reverse Stock Split within the Range in order to regain full compliance with the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC's ("Nasdaq") share price listing rule ("Rule"). The Rule requires that the bid price for the Company's Ordinary Shares must close at $1.00 per share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days during the compliance period ending October 28, 2023.

A Reverse Stock Split would reduce the total number of JCSE's issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, which is expected to result in an increase in the trading price per share. The objective of the Reverse Stock Split, if effected, will be to ensure that the Company regains full compliance with the Rule and maintains its listing on Nasdaq.

About JE Cleantech Holdings Limited

JE Cleantech Holdings Limited is based in Singapore and is principally engaged in (i) the sale of cleaning systems and other equipment; and (ii) the provision of centralized dishwashing and ancillary services. Through its subsidiary, JCS-Echigo Pte Ltd, the company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells cleaning systems for various industrial end-use applications, primarily to customers in Singapore and Malaysia. Its cleaning systems are mainly designed for precision cleaning, with features such as particle filtration, ultrasonic or megasonic rinses with a wide range of frequencies, high-pressure drying technology, high flow rate spray, and deionized water rinses, which are designed for effective removal of contaminants and to minimize particle generation and entrapment. The Company also has provided centralized dishwashing services through its subsidiary, Hygieia Warewashing Pte Ltd, since 2013 and general cleaning services since 2015, both mainly for food and beverage establishments in Singapore. For more information about JE Cleantech, please visit our website: www.jecleantech.sg.

Disclaimer: Forward looking statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such words or phrases as "should," "intends," "is subject to," "expects," "will," "continue," "anticipate," "estimated," "projected," "may," "I or we believe," "future prospects," "our strategy," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements made in this press release that relate to our future contract revenues, among other things, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those expected and stated in this announcement. We undertake no obligation to update "forward-looking" statements.

For Media Enquiries and Investor Relations, please contact:
jcse@preciouscomms.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

TANAKA Precious Metals to Establish Global Recycling Network, Promoting Worldwide Recycling of Precious Metals

TOKYO, Aug 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K., a core company of TANAKA Precious Metals Group, announced it has launched regional business strategies towards establishing a Global Recycling Network, promoting the widespread recycling of precious metals.

"Global Recycle Network" Bases

Ya'an Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd.

The expansion will encourage recycling at TANAKA's main recovering and refining bases: Ichikawa Plant and Shonan Plant in Japan for Southeast Asia, Hukou Plant for Taiwan, Marin Plant (Switzerland) for Europe, and North Attleborough Plant (Mass, USA) for North America.

As part of this expansion, Chengdu Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd., a TANAKA affiliate company in China, will establish a new company, Ya'an Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd., in Sichuan Province, scheduled to begin full-scale operations in summer 2024.

Of the approximate 5 billion yen investment to establish Ya'an Guangming Paite, TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo will hold 40% through its share in Chengdu Guangming Paite. The new company will manufacture precious metal compounds for various catalysts and plating, and recover production scrap using TANAKA's precious metal recycling technology.

Precious Metals Recycling Business Development in China

Ideally, the precious metals business in China should be integrated, as in other countries, with recovery and refining together with the manufacture of industrial precious metals products. The cooperation between TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo and Chengdu Guangming Paite has allowed for limited integration, but much scrap goes unrecovered.

Ya'an Guangming Paite will introduce the recycling process that TANAKA has developed over many years in Japan, to establish a process capable of recovering scrap that was previously unrecoverable. Through the new company, TANAKA will establish a one-stop precious metal recycling system within China, further developing its precious metal recycling business.

TANAKA hopes to contribute to global sustainability by effectively limiting the precious metal resources utilized in various industries, and believes that precious metal recycling will help reduce the use of mined precious metals in industrial products, thereby helping to reduce environmental impact.

About Chengdu Guangming Paite

Chengdu Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd. was established in 2008 as a Chinese-foreign joint venture by CDGM Glass Co., Ltd. and Pushan International Co., Ltd. In 2012, it became a joint venture between CDGM Glass and TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo, following an equity transfer from Pushan International, and in 2014 the ownership ratio became 60% CDGM Glass and 40% TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo. It is engaged in the manufacture and sales of precious metal industry products and the precious metal recycling business in China.

About TANAKA Precious Metals

Since its foundation in 1885, TANAKA Precious Metals has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is the leader in Japan in volumes of precious metals handled. TANAKA has not only manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry but also provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and around the world collaborate and cooperate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,355 employees, group sales for the year ending March 31, 2023, was 680 billion yen ($4.6 billion).

Global industrial business website:
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/

Product inquiries:
TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-on-industrial-products/

Press inquiries:
TANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd. (TSE: 7619)
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/

Press Release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/202308_EN.pdf

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Closing the loop between artificial intelligence and robotic experiments

TSUKUBA, Japan, Aug 24, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The powers of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic experiment systems have come together in pioneering proof-of-concept work at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan. The researchers describe the development and demonstration of their "closed loop" automation software in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods.

NIMS-OS links AI and robotics for innovative materials research

"The overall aim of our work is to allow experiments exploring materials science to be designed and then proceed automatically, with no human intervention," says physicist and software engineer Ryo Tamura at the NIMS Center for Basic Research on Materials. The AI first performs the information gathering and experimental design tasks normally done by humans, and then controls the robotic systems that can execute the required physical tasks.

The team demonstrated the potential of their system by using it to identify electrolytes that would be suitable for mediating the movement of ions in lithium-metal batteries.

The software, called the NIMS Orchestration System (NIMS-OS), contains two basic types of modules. The first uses AI algorithms to explore archived data on the properties of materials. It selects promising materials and proposes experimental procedures that would allow them to achieve a desired aim. The second type of module generates the instructions needed to control a robotic system that will put the instructions into practice.

To make the whole process as easy to use as possible for a wide range of researchers the team also designed an easy-to-use graphical user interface to control it.

"The results of initial work by the robotic system via NIMS-OS can be fed back to refine the AI algorithms that control it, through several cycles of test and improvement," says Tamura.

In the proof-of-concept task that explored options for making electrolytes that maximize the performance of an electrode in a lithium-metal battery, NIMS-OS utilized systems that were robotically assembled into electrochemical cells and subjected to charging and discharging cycles to analyze their performance. The results clearly identified the better electrolyte composition and indicated there is room for improvement on the electrolytes that are currently widely used commercially.

"Our NIMS-OS is now publicly available as open-source software at the widely used GitHub website," says Tamura. "We now plan to develop it further to allow it to work together with many different types of robotic experiment systems."

Further information
Ryo Tamura
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Email: tamura.ryo@nims.go.jp
Paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/27660400.2023.2232297

About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods (STAM-M)

STAM Methods is an open access sister journal of Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM), and focuses on emergent methods and tools for improving and/or accelerating materials developments, such as methodology, apparatus, instrumentation, modeling, high-throughput data collection, materials/process informatics, databases, and programming. https://www.tandfonline.com/STAM-M

Dr Yasufumi Nakamichi
STAM Publishing Director
Email: NAKAMICHI.Yasufumi@nims.go.jp

Press release distributed by Asia Research News for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

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TANAKA Precious Metals to Exhibit at SEMICON China 2023 International Semiconductor Exhibition to be Held in Shanghai, China

TOKYO, Jun 20, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), which develops the manufacturing business of TANAKA Precious Metals, announced that it will exhibit at SEMICON China 2023, an international semiconductor exhibition to be held in Shanghai, China on June 29 to July 1, 2023. At this exhibition, we will exhibit panels showing precious metal products related to semiconductors – such as various types of plating solutions, bonding wires, and precious metal pastes – for which demand is expected to continue to grow in China's semiconductor market. We will also be exhibiting for the first time TK-FS, a new alloy for probe pins that was announced in April 2023.

Conceptual image of exhibition booth

For plating solutions, which have high demand in China, TANAKA Precious Metals contributes to the manufacturing of compound semiconductors by providing the environmentally friendly non-cyanide gold plating process instead of the cyanide gold plating process. In the past, products imported from Japan were offered in China, but now, the same products can be produced and supplied locally by group company Metalor Technologies (Suzhou) Limited using precious metal materials from China.

In addition, TK-FS – which is being exhibited for the first time – is a product that allows the same material to be used in a wide range of probe pins for semiconductor test equipment. With the spread of the IoT today, semiconductors are becoming necessary not only in electronic devices but also in a broad range of fields, such as automobiles and home appliances. In particular, the demand for power semiconductors is expected to grow.

TANAKA Precious Metals engages in business globally as a manufacturer specializing in precious metals and, above all, boasts the world's highest market shares for bonding wires. In China, TANAKA Precious Metals has earned trust as a precious metal professional group by supplying products of high reliability that were made in Japan.

TANAKA Precious Metals aims to contribute toward the growth of China's semiconductor market – which is expected to continue to expand in the future – by continuing the technological development of precious metal materials for semiconductor devices.

SEMICON China 2023 Exhibition Outline

– Exhibition Title: SEMICON China 2023
– Dates: Thursday, June 29-Saturday, July 1, 2023, 9:00-17:00 *China local time (until 16:00 on July 1)
– Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre (Suzhou, China)
– Official Site: https://www.semiconchina.org/ *Only English and simplified Chinese sites are available
– Exhibitor: TANAKA Kikinzoku International (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (A TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. overseas office) and Metalor Technologies (Suzhou) Limited.
– Booth Number: E2152
– Main Products Shown on Panels: Products for semiconductors, such as various types of plating solutions, TK-FS, bonding wires, and precious metal pastes

Product Name: Various types of plating solutions
Outline: Various types of plating solutions are offered according to the application, including the MICROFAB series of non-cyanide gold plating processes excellent for fine pattern formation on wafers, the PRECIOUSFAB series of corrosion-resistant platinum plating solutions, and the GALVANOMEISTER gold-tin alloy plating which can be expected to reduce costs as a replacement for lead-free solder. For equipment, panels will introduce the RAD-Plater experimental equipment and the fully automated POSFER.

Product Name: TK-FS
Outline: This is a material that can be used in a wide range of types of probe pins besides pogo-pin types, such as cantilever-type or vertical-type for wafer testing (pre-processing) probe cards. With three unique attributes – a Vickers hardness of at least 500, specific resistance of at most 7.0 micro ohm-cm, and durability that can withstand 10 or more times of repeated bending – this material can be used in various types of probe pins.

Product Name: Bonding wires
Outline: These are precious metal products essential for electrically connecting electronic components – such as integrated circuits, transistors, semiconductors, and printed circuit boards – used in electronic devices. The full lineup will be introduced at this exhibition, centering on gold bonding wires for flash memory and aluminum wires, ribbons, etc. for power devices.

Product Name: Precious metal pastes
Outline: Precious metal pastes, powders, and conductive adhesives are widely used in various applications, such as circuitry and semiconductor die bonding. In particular, due to the rising demand for pastes with high thermal cooling in the markets for lead-free products, automotive power devices, and optical devices for LEDs, the lineup of various silver pastes will be introduced.

TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.

Headquarters: 22F, Tokyo Building, 2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Koichiro Tanaka, Representative Director & CEO
Founded: 1885
Incorporated: 1918
Capital: 500 million yen
Employees: 2,429 (including overseas subsidiaries) (March 31, 2022)
Sales: 389,646,820,000 yen* (FY2021)
Main businesses: Manufacture, sales, import and export of precious metals (platinum, gold, silver, and others) and various types of industrial precious metals products.
* Due to the adoption of the Accounting Standard for Revenue Recognition from FY2021, the net amount is given for the net sales of some transactions.

About TANAKA Precious Metals

Since its foundation in 1885, TANAKA Precious Metals has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volumes of precious metals handled. Over the course of many years, TANAKA has not only manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry but also provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and around the world collaborate and cooperate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,225 employees, the Group's consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, were 787.7 billion yen.*
*From the current consolidated fiscal year, the amounts of sales for some transactions are indicated as net values due to the application of the Accounting Standard for Revenue Recognition.

Global industrial business website
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/

Product inquiries
TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-on-industrial-products/

Press inquiries
TANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd.
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/

This press release in PDF: http://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20230620_EN.pdf

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Moolec Science Presents Third Quarter FY 2023 Business Update

Luxembourg, May 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Moolec Science SA (NASDAQ: MLEC) a science-based food ingredient company focused on producing animal proteins in plants through Molecular Farming, today reported its business update for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2023 ended March 31, 2023.

The main highlights of the Company's business update are as follows:

– On January 3, the Company started trading on Nasdaq under tickers "MLEC" for the common shares, and "MLECW" for the Company's warrants.

– Progress in the company's R&D and Regulatory front is on track:
— Meat replacement (YEEA) scaled-up in R&D stages and new meat proteins were successfully expressed.
— Meat replacement product pipeline made significant scientific progress to produce animal proteins in plant hosts.
— Regulatory clearance from USDA-APHIS for Molecular GLA safflower plants was achieved.
— Molecular Safflower seed multiplication progress is on track based on the company's internal schedule. Expression levels in GLA were approximately 60%, 10% above expectations.

– Integration of downstream and upstream capabilities:
— Moolec acquired plant-based ingredient capabilities to consolidate Molecular Farming Technology.
— The company has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bioceres Crop Solutions (NASDAQ: BIOX) for up to 20.000 tons of Sustainable HB4(R) soybean as working capital, payable with common shares or cash in 3 years.

"We are very pleased to update the market for the first time as a public company, as the pioneer Molecular Farming Food-Biotech company in public markets. I want to thank our entire team for their unwavering commitment in building a category creator in the food industry. We look forward to continuing our journey in building a more resilient and sustainable food system for the good of the planet," stated Gaston Paladini, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and Co-Founder of Moolec Science. "We have been able to deliver very important scientific, operational, and regulatory milestones, as well as business and financial progress, in a very short period of time. Proud of Moolec?s Team, the Moolers!" also added.

"Having completed our business combination on December 30, 2022, and commenced the trading on Nasdaq, as of January 3, 2023, we are confident that access to the public markets will provide Moolec the flexibility and exposure to continue growing the Company. We also commend our team's progress and momentum in research and development. Our continued efforts have positioned Moolec at the forefront of plant-based animal protein development. We are pleased with our progress thus far as we continue to deliver results in multiple areas simultaneously," added Jos? Lopez Lecube, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Moolec Science.

For a full version of Moolec Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2023 Business Update, click here. http://ir.moolecscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Moolec-Science-3rd-Quarter-FY-2023-Business-Update-May-30-2023.pdf

Moolec's Management will host a Conference Call and question-and-answer session, which will be accompanied by a presentation available during the webinar.

To access the call, please use the following information:
– Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023
– Time: 8:00 a.m. ET
– Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-247lVcTSjG8O-cdXAt4FQ#/registration

Please connect 5-10 minutes prior to the start time to register and join. A replay and the PDF version of the presentation will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event via the company's Investor Relations website. https://ir.moolecscience.com/

About Moolec Science SA

Moolec Science is a science-based food ingredient company focused on producing animal proteins in plants through Molecular Farming, a disruptive technology in the alternative protein landscape. Its purpose is to upgrade the taste, nutrition, and affordability of alternative protein products while building a more sustainable and equitable food system. The company's technological approach aims to have the cost structure of plant-based solutions with the organoleptic properties and functionality of animal-based ones. Moolec Science's technology has been under development for more than a decade and is known for pioneering the production of a bovine protein in a crop for the food industry. The company's product portfolio and pipeline leverages the agronomic efficiency of broadly used target crops, like soybeans and peas and Moolec Science has a growing international patent portfolio (23, both granted and pending) for its Molecular Farming technology. The company is run by a diverse team of Ph.Ds and Food Insiders, and operates in the United States, Europe, and South America. For more information, visit www.moolecscience.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "intend," "seek," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements with respect to performance, prospects, revenues, and other aspects of the business of Moolec Science S.A. ("Moolec") are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors, about which we cannot be certain. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results, including, among others, changes in applicable laws or regulations, the possibility that Moolec may be adversely affected by economic, business and/or other competitive factors, costs related to the scaling up of Moolec's business and other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the header "Risk Factors" in the Form F-1 Registration Statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as well as Moolec's other filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Accordingly, you should not put undue reliance on these statements.

Contact Information
Catalina Jones
Chief of Staff & Sustainability
comms@moolecscience.com

Mart?n Taraciuk
Investor Relations
ir@moolecscience.com

Michael Bowen
ICR, LLC
moolecir@icrinc.com

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