A Pioneer in Industry Half a century has passed since we began recovering silver from photographic fixing waste. Since then, through our core competence of precious metal recycling and environmental protection, we have dedicated our management resources in line with our corporate slogan of "Caring for Nature, Caring for People." Our precious metal recycling operations have been successful not only for precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium and iridium, but also rare metals like indium, which are essential for today's hi-tech industries. Our environmental protection operations began in 1971 when we started industrial waste treatment, following the enactment of the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law. Since then, we have expanded to cover the processing of infectious waste and other hazardous industrial waste that presents the risk of contamination, as well as the removal of heavy metals and decomposition of cyanides. Asahi Pretec: the Technology People Whether it is precious metal recycling or environmental protection, our business is all based on unique expertise and technologies covering separation, electrolysis, refining, smelting, casting, concentration, and membrane treatment. One of our specific features is the way in which everybody contributes ideas that improve the way we work - not just the research and development people but also the staff at the "front line" of our operations. Putting the Customer First Asahi Pretec serves a wide variety of customers: hospitals, printing works, mini photo labs, dental clinics, metal plating factories, electronic component manufacturers, jewelry makers, analytical and test facilities... we serve them all. No matter what their field of business, our customers can count on one thing: offering them the highest standard of services. We believe in the Customer-is-first principle. Our continuous efforts to meet varied customer needs have been properly appreciated. The Company has a network of 20 offices throughout Japan dealing directly with a total of more than 100,000 customers. Our experienced staff are happy to serve them with a wide range of products, services and information. Our Corporate Slogan: Caring for Nature, Caring for People Our staying power for marketing and technological development is made even stronger by the dedication and sense of purpose shown by our employees. This enables us to enter more fields of business. The Technical Research Center is the technology and information heart of Asahi Pretec, providing more ways to solve the environmental problems in the 21st century. Asahi Pretec firmly commits itself to work in harmony with local communities, where we have been striving to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. Appreciative local communities, dedicated employees, and shareholders who properly evaluate our business: these three elements form the triangle that supports Asahi Pretec Corporation. To meet their expectations, we will continue to build a company getting both of stability and growth through the 21st century. CEO & COO Mitsuharu Terayama