Appliance Recycling Centers of America Announces Patent Covering Its Refrigerant Recovery Systems and Techniques

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. ARCI, a leading provider of appliance recycling and retailing services, today announced that it has been granted a patent (US Patent No. 8,931,289) covering its systems, methods and techniques for facilitating the recovery and recycling of refrigerants and oil from refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and similar appliances that contain refrigerant in their sealed systems.

Using techniques described in the patent, the system incorporates various levels of automation to reduce the number of human operators required during the refrigerant recovery process, reducing the risks of operator error. Further, certain techniques described in the patent incorporate integrated data logging to enable reporting of events and data related to the refrigerant recovery process.

Commenting on the issuance of this patent, Mark Eisenschenk, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are very pleased with the issuance of this important patent, which helps ensure our core intellectual property is properly protected. It may also provide ARCA with an increased competitive advantage, as well as a basis for licensing opportunities."

About ARCA

ARCA's three business components are uniquely positioned in the industry to work together to provide a full array of appliance-related services. ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC employs advanced technology to refine traditional appliance recycling techniques to achieve optimal revenue-generating and environmental benefits. ARCA is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of the world's leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap. ARCA's regional centers process appliances at end of life to remove environmentally damaging substances and produce material byproducts for recycling for utilities in the U.S. and Canada. Eighteen company-owned stores under the name ApplianceSmart, Inc.^® sell new appliances directly to consumers and provide affordable ENERGY STAR^® options for energy efficiency appliance replacement programs.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding ARCA's future success. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including the risks associated with general economic conditions, competition in the retail and recycling industries and regulatory risks. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in ARCA's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other risks may be detailed from time to time in reports to be filed with the SEC.

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SOURCE Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.