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| Unifying analysis to international standards with an eye to increased supply recycled from spent auto catalyst and used jewelry |
TOKYO, Aug 4, 2011 - (ACN Newswire) - TANAKA HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. (a company of Tanaka Precious Metals) today announced that the TKG Laboratory Center of Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K., which operates the Tanaka Precious Metals' manufacturing business became the first company in Japan to acquire ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation for platinum and palladium analysis technology.
 | | Tanaka Precious Metals First to Obtain ISO/IEC17025 Accreditation for Platinum and Palladium Analysis Technology in Japan |
The accreditation recognizes that Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo's techniques and repeatability of analytical results concerning the quantitative analysis of trace metals in platinum and palladium are compliant with international standards, and this is the first time this kind of accreditation has been awarded in Japan. ISO/IEC 17025 is an international standard specifying the general requirements concerning the ability to perform testing and calibration, and it requires not only the operation of management systems such as those specified in ISO 9001, but also very strict and appropriate analyzing ability.
With the acquisition of accreditation, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo is able to produce solid standard reference materials(1) for analyzing platinum and palladium with analysis levels compliant with international standards. Client companies and organizations performing analysis, such as smelters, will be able to analyze platinum and palladium with an even higher level of reliability than in the past.
Current state of Precious Metal Analysis
In August 2010, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo achieved ISO/IEC17025 accreditation for the analysis of trace metals in gold ahead of that for platinum and palladium, and has established a system providing reference materials for the analysis of gold. However, looking at the precious metals industry as a whole, despite efforts aimed at establishing a global standard for analysis techniques, a standard is yet to be finalized, and there are still outstanding issues such as analysis of precious metals being based upon the reference materials of each company or organization.
In particular, the price of precious metals such as platinum and palladium have continued to rise in recent years, and in addition to supply from mines, there is a growing trend of sourcing supplies from recycling of items such as used automotive catalyst and used jewelry. Ingot refined from such products requires higher reliability with regard to quality assurance due to factors such as the need to analyze the concentration of contamination by more elements.
Facing the Challenge of Global Standards
As a company nominated by the LPPM(2) as a Good Delivery Referee, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo has provided an extremely high level of analysis technology for platinum and palladium until now. This accreditation signifies recognition of such analysis techniques on an international level, and is expected to contribute to the establishment of global standards for the quality assurance of platinum and palladium.
Platinum, which is used in automotive catalysts, LCD glass, fuel cells and jewelry, and palladium, which is used in automotive catalysts, condensers and dental materials, are currently maintaining high levels of demand in both industrial use and jewelry. Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo has placed the highest priority on improving techniques for analyzing gold, platinum and palladium, for which there is particularly high demand among precious metals, and will continue to improve quality in an effort to establish global standards for analysis technology and quality assurance for all precious metals in the future.
(1) Standard reference materials
A uniform material with a single or multiple attributes used for calibrating equipment, assessing measurement methods and evaluating (analyzing) material being measured. In addition to serving as a quantitative benchmark in various forms of chemical analysis, it also plays a role in correcting differences caused by equipment usage conditions and characteristics, along with personnel performing analysis.
(2) LPPM
The London Platinum & Palladium Market (LPPM) was established with the objective of ensuring fairly trading platinum and palladium, and is the world's only authoritative body providing accreditation to authorized smelters. There are currently five Good Delivery Referees, and Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo is the only one in Japan.
Company release, with images:
http://www.acnnewswire.com/clientreports/508/0804.pdf
About TANAKA HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. (Holding company of Tanaka Precious Metals)
Headquarters: 22F, Tokyo Building, 2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Hideya Okamoto, President & CEO
Founded: 1885
Incorporated: 1918
Capital: 500 million yen
Consolidated employees: 3,441 (FY2009)
Consolidated net sales: 710.2 billion yen (FY2009)
Main businesses of the group: Manufacture, sales, import and export of precious metals (platinum, gold, silver, and others) and various types of industrial precious metals products. Recycling and refining of precious metals.
Website: http://www.tanaka.co.jp
About Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
Headquarters: 22F, Tokyo Building, 2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Hideya Okamoto, President & CEO
Founded: 1885
Incorporated: 1918
Capital: 500 million yen
Employees: 1,599 (FY2009)
Sales: 388.8 billion yen (FY2009)
Businesses: Manufacture, sales, import and export of precious metals (platinum, gold, silver, and others) and various types of industrial precious metals products. Recycling and refining of precious metals.
Website: http://pro.tanaka.co.jp
About the Tanaka Precious Metals
Established in 1885, the Tanaka Precious Metals has built a diversified range of business activities focused on the use of precious metals. On April 1, 2010, the group was reorganized with TANAKA HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. as the holding company (parent company) of the Tanaka Precious Metals. In addition to strengthening corporate governance, the company aims to improve overall service to customers by ensuring efficient management and dynamic execution of operations. Tanaka Precious Metals is committed, as a specialist corporate entity, to providing a diverse range of products through cooperation among group companies.
Tanaka Precious Metals is in the top class in Japan in terms of the volume of precious metal handled, and for many years the group has developed and stably supplied industrial precious metals, in addition to providing accessories and savings commodities utilizing precious metals. As precious metal professionals, the Group will continue to contribute to enriching people's lives in the future.
The eight core companies in the Tanaka Precious Metals are as follows.
- TANAKA HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. (pure holding company)
- Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
- Tanaka Kikinzoku Hanbai K.K.
- Tanaka Kikinzoku International K.K.
- Tanaka Denshi Kogyo K.K.
- Electroplating Engineers of Japan, Limited
- Tanaka Kikinzoku Jewelry K.K.
- Tanaka Kikinzoku Business Service K.K.
Press inquiries:
GD Referee Office
Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
E-mail: referee@ml.tanaka.co.jp
Topic: New Service
Source: Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd.
Sectors: Metals & Mining
https://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network
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