R & D
Research & Development
/ Production System
Technical Research Center
The Technical Research Center is the organization responsible for managing the technology of the ARE Holdings Group. The staff members of the technical divisions are gathered at the Technical Research Center, where they hone their expertise and share information to lead the changing precious metal recycling market and smoothly promote the advanced recycling of precious metals, the establishment of new methods, and the construction of highly productive plants.
The Technical Research Center is committed to realizing a sound material-cycle society through tireless research and the introduction of state-of-the-art facilities in order to prevent the depletion of resources essential for the development of society and to help achieve decarbonization and solve other social challenges. It consists of two divisions, the R&D Department and the Production Engineering Department, and is a vibrant and energetic organization with a high percentage of young employees.
The Technical Research Center, completed in 1998, is located in Kobe High-Tech Park (industrial complex) in Kobe’s Nishi-ku, which is rich in nature. In 2023, 25 years after its construction, the Center was renovated and acquired a rating of "★★★★★" under the Building-Housing Energy-efficiency Labeling System (BELS) by installing solar panels and energy-saving equipment.
Having obtained a BELS certification for an old building, the Technical Research Center is a rare and distinctive building in the market.
Department Introduction
R&D Department
The Process Development Division responsible for upgrading existing businesses and creating new businesses
The R&D Department consists of three groups: the Research Group, the Development Group, and the Assay Group, which support the technology of the entire ARE Holdings Group.
Research Group, Development Group
By always anticipating the needs of society, we strive to create new products and businesses through the development of new technologies and the application of our accumulated underlying technologies.
- Technology for separating and refining precious and rare metals
- Precious metal molding and refining technology
- Decarbonization technologies
- Hydrogen and heavy water utilization technologies
Assay Group
Serving as the core of our Group's analytical functions, we support a wide range of corporate activities through state-of-the-art analytical equipment and advanced assay technologies. The Assay Group also plays an important role in ensuring that customer trust is maintained and strengthened.
- Development of new assay technology
- Technical guidance for assay groups at each plant
- Purity assay of precious metal products
- Environmental analysis of issues such as plant wastewater discharges
- Environmental measurement certification business
In addition, in relation to our precious metal assay technology, we have obtained ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation from the Japan Accreditation Board (JAB) for gravimetric analysis technology for precious metal elements. For more information, click here.
Production Engineering Department
Engineering Department
that Handles Everything from Large Construction Projects to IT Maintenance
The Production Engineering Department is based at the Technical Research Center, with representative offices located at the Bando Plant and Amagasaki Plant, and takes the lead in equipment design and installation and equipment maintenance using IT for the entire ARE Holdings Group.
Equipment Design
In order to transform processes developed using our proprietary technologies into production equipment, we collaborate with the R&D Department and develop equipment from basic design through to factory installation. The creation and challenge of engineers lead to the construction of highly productive factories.
保全体制
「保全」＝「現場作業」という認識は時代と共に変化しています。上位機器から端末機器までがEthernetで繋がる坂東工場および、アメリカユタ州のソルトレイク工場では、テクノセンターとタイムリーに情報が共有できる体制を整備しています。
環境保全と生産性の両立
建築物において最も環境性能の高いZEB（Net Zero Energy Building)の認証を受け、環境に優しく地域貢献性の高い工場を建設しました。生産設備は最適なプロセスと自動化技術の導入により、自然と資源を守りつつ生産性の高い工場を実現しました。
Bando Plant total site area: 57,000 square meters
- 1.5 times larger than Koshien Stadium (38,500 square meters)
- ･Phase 1: Operation started in April 2022
- ･Phase 2: Operation started in April 2025
Production System
-
Bando Plant/Refining Center
[Site area] 38,000㎡/19,000㎡
[Processed items]- ･Catalysts (unused catalysts, waste catalysts)
- ･Cleaning (precious metals adhering to vapor deposition/sputtering equipment and parts)
- ・デンタル（歯科医院や技工所で発生する撤去冠や加工屑）
- ・宝飾（不要となった貴金属ジュエリー、製造過程で発生する加工屑）
-
Nagano Plant
[Site area] 2,800㎡
[Processed items]- ･Cleaning (precious metals adhering to vapor deposition/sputtering equipment and parts)
- Tokyo Head Office
-
Amagasaki Plant
[Site area] 13,800㎡
[Processed items]- ･Cleaning (precious metals adhering to vapor deposition/sputtering equipment and parts)
- ･Surface treatment (used plating and etching solutions, filters and resins containing precious metals)
- ･E-scrap (used & unused boards, CPU, printed circuit boards)
-
Fukuoka Plant
[Site area] 6,500㎡
[Processed items]- ･Cleaning (precious metals adhering to vapor deposition/sputtering equipment and parts)
*Hover over each plant to see an overview.
知的財産戦略
貴金属の分離・回収・加工、廃棄物の無害化処理・再資源化の分野において数多くの独自技術を生み出してきました。これらの技術は国内外で広く活用され、貴金属リサイクル事業、環境保全事業の成長に貢献しています。知的財産部門では、これら独自技術を特許として出願し、特許権を確保・維持しています。また、商標・意匠についても出願・管理を行っています。
特許出願実績（累計）92件（2026年3月31日現在）
Group Quality
We are proud of our reliable quality, which is highly regarded both domestically and internationally, as well as our strong commitment to the environment, and we contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through the recycling of metal resources.
High quality backed by social trust
Internationally recognized precious metal brand
The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM) certify, for gold and silver and for platinum and palladium respectively, refiners who have passed assessments for product quality, ability to analyze precious metals, and responsible sourcing, etc., as Good Delivery Refiners. Asahi Metalfine and Asahi Refining (USA and Canada) have received Good Delivery certification for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium and for gold and silver respectively, earning the trust of the global market. In order to maintain Good Delivery certification, compliance with the following due diligence guidance based on the OECD Guidance is required: the LBMA Responsible Gold and Silver Guidance ("LBMA Guidance") and the LPPM Responsible Platinum and Palladium Guidance ("LPPM Guidance"), and undergoing an annual audit by a third-party organization is also required in addition to periodic quality and technical assessments. The recent LBMA Guidance requires companies to fulfill their social responsibilities for the environment and sustainability, in addition to the prevention of the use of conflict minerals, human rights abuses, money laundering, terrorist financing, and illicit transactions. Asahi Metalfine and Asahi Refining (USA and Canada) are also certified by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) as conflict-free gold refiners that comply with the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP).
ISO 9001 (International Standard for Quality Management)
Our group has acquired ISO 9001 certification, the international standard for quality management systems, and stably provides high-quality products and services that meet the needs of our customers. We are committed to customer satisfaction and continuous quality improvement through thorough quality assurance of our products and services.
ISO/IEC 17025 (International standards for laboratory accreditation)
Our acquisition of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, which provides international recognition of the accuracy and reliability of our precious metal analysis, has enabled us to provide even higher quality analysis results to our customers.
Strong Commitment to the Environment
ISO 14001 (International Standard for Environmental Protection)
As part of our responsibility to future generations, we are strengthening our efforts to protect the global environment. Through the acquisition of ISO 14001 certification, we are implementing continuous improvement activities to reduce our environmental impact and protect natural resources. As a partner supporting the future of industry, we promote environmentally sustainable business development.
Contributing to a decarbonized society by acquiring ZEB Certification
We have acquired ZEB (Net Zero Energy Building) Certification and aim to contribute to a decarbonized society in all aspects of our business activities. We have significantly reduced CO2 emissions through energy conservation and the increased use of renewable energy. We operate our business in an environmentally friendly manner with an eye toward a sustainable future.
UL2809 Validation (*)
The potassium gold cyanide we produce has been verified by UL Solutions to be made from 100% recycled gold. Through the manufacture of our products, we are committed to global environmental conservation and contributing to the realization of a sustainable world.
UL2809: UL2809 is an environmental claim validation procedure established by UL Solutions Inc., a U.S.-based company. It provides a method for third-party verification of the percentage of recycled materials in products that is self-declared by organizations or businesses.
Based on information from UL Solutions Inc. website
Environmental Claim Validation | UL
https://www.ul.com/services/environmental-claim-validation-ecv