WASHINGTON - IPC commends the Biden administration for completing its 100-day review of strategically important supply chains and for outlining bold actions to strengthen U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and ensure the availability of minerals critical to electronics manufacturing.

The results of the 100-day review are captured in an 11-page White House fact sheet and a 250-page report, released today. IPC believes the review has been helpful in bringing key issues into focus, including the importance of strengthening the entire electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The entire supply chain includes printed circuit board (PCB) and PCB assembly manufacturing; access to raw materials; and next-generation “advanced packaging” of substrate-based multichip modules.

IPC’s recommendations to the administration – many of which are reflected in the documents published today – are summarized in a recent letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

“For far too long, the U.S. Government has neglected its important role in strengthening the nation’s manufacturing base and instead has watched passively as other countries around the world invested in their manufacturing capabilities,” said IPC CEO John Mitchell. “U.S. electronics manufacturers appreciate the Biden administration’s decision to highlight the longstanding and significant challenges facing the U.S. electronics manufacturing base as a result.”

“This report outlines important, initial steps to address the current crisis and reaffirms the President’s commitment to preserve and extend U.S. leadership in innovation and advanced manufacturing. But addressing America’s manufacturing capacity decline will be a long process,” Mitchell added. “We look forward to working with the Executive Branch, Congress, and an array of stakeholders to reverse the erosion of the U.S. electronics industrial base and related risks to economic and national security.”

IPC and the electronics manufacturers it represents support the following actions being taken or proposed by the Biden administration:

• Address semiconductor shortages by expanding U.S. production of chips; creating a task force to address supply chain challenges in several electronics-dependent sectors; and investing in domestic “advanced packaging” capabilities, of which printed circuit boards (PCBs) and PCB assembly manufacturers are critical components.
• Adjust federal acquisition policies to identify and support procurement of critical products like PCBs and printed circuit board assemblies.
• Bolster investment in domestic and international production of critical minerals, most notably though the Defense Production Act.
• Strengthen U.S. apprenticeships programs to ensure a skilled workforce.
• Promote international cooperation to support supply chain resiliency, which will be critical because no nation in today’s world can be completely self-sufficient in electronics and manufacturing.
• Ensure a level playing field by addressing long-standing trade disputes.

In addition, IPC supports other efforts outlined by the Biden administration as part of this announcement to strengthen the U.S. industrial base, including:

• Appropriation of $50 billion in dedicated funding for semiconductor manufacturing and R&D;
• Establishment of a new Commerce Department Supply Chain Resilience Program, backed by no less than $50 billion in federal funding;
• Funding under the Defense Production Act to support manufacturing resilience in critical industries;
• Creation of sector-specific workforce education and training programs; and
• Support of the R&D and capital needs of small- and medium-sized businesses that that are the foundation of the U.S. electronics manufacturing base.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 8, 2021 / EnviroLeach Technologies Inc. (the "Company "or "EnviroLeach"), (CSE:ETI)(OTCQB: EVLLF)(FSE:7N2) is pleased to report continued research and development of EnviroLeach's patented gold recovery technologies has resulted in improved efficiencies and significantly reduced reagent costs.

Ongoing research to optimize EnviroLeach's proprietary lixiviant and patented gold recovery process has produced several breakthroughs resulting in higher gold recoveries, reduced leach times, and lower operating costs.

The leach kinetics of EnviroLeach's lixiviant, already equal to or superior to those of cyanide in most circumstances, have been enhanced through the optimization of the secondary reagent. This advancement dramatically shortens the optimal leach time. The following example illustrates a 33% reduction in leach time from 24 hours to less than 16 hours.

In addition, the introduction of an alternate secondary reagent has resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of primary reagent required and a corresponding cost savings. The following chart (see Chart 2) shows enhanced gold recoveries using the alternate secondary reagent combined with primary reagent amounts reduced to 1/3 of original levels.

Using the optimized alternate secondary reagent combined with lower amounts of primary reagent also reduces the residual gold in tails when compared to the original secondary reagent and original amount of primary reagent (see Chart 3). These technical advancements enhance EnviroLeach's patented technology resulting in a novel gold recovery solution with high recoveries, fast leach kinetics and very attractive economics when compared to conventional gold recovery processes.

Ish Grewal, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. and Executive Vice President of EnviroLeach, states: "Our technology innovation team continues to deliver industry leading solutions for gold recovery. These improvements make our solution more economically compelling and certainly more sustainable. We are very proud of our accomplishments to date, and we believe these recent improvements will accelerate the adoption of EnviroLeach's technologies in the primary and secondary gold recovery sectors. Our technologies deliver a balanced combination of economics and environmental sustainability which the gold sector is striving to achieve.".

Research to optimize EnviroLeach's proprietary lixiviant and patented gold recovery process was conducted at the Company's laboratory located in Burnaby, British Columbia.

About EnviroLeach Technologies Inc.

EnviroLeach extracts precious and other valuable metals from recycled printed circuit boards, ores, and mineral concentrates in a safe, environmentally friendly, and sustainable manner. The Company's primary target industries are the electronic waste (E-waste) management sector and the mining sector. Our patented chemistries and technology applications offer a cost-effective solution that replaces cyanide and reduces the reliance on smelters to recover precious metals.

EnviroLeach's patented leach process is similar to conventional leaching methods for the recovery of gold, but it eliminates the use of toxic chemical compounds such as cyanide or acid-based solutions. EnviroLeach's treatment process targets industry participants seeking a domestic processing solution with lower logistics and third-party costs, and a reduced environmental impact.

The EnviroLeach technology solution creates very strong differentiation in the marketplace and provides unique positioning. The awarded and pending patents combined with the processing knowledge required for optimization create significant barriers for competitors to overcome. The EnviroLeach process is cost-competitive, safe, sustainable, and holds potential for multiple revenue streams. Further information is available on the EnviroLeach website: https://EnviroLeach.com