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Applied Engineering Products Company of Salt Lake City Begins Manufacturing the "RE-LEM"

Better and Safer Land Mine Remediation and Removal

Unexploded (UXO) land mines are the cause of both human and economic concerns among Third World countries during the last quarter of the twentieth century and the first quarter of the twenty-first. It is estimated that anti-personnel land mines left over from various internecine conflicts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South Asia have restrained local economies from returning to profitability and the abilities to reuse land that is currently saturated with unexploded mines. Land mines are responsible for the deaths of more than 26,000 humans every year. That means the total killed has exceeded three-quarters of a million since 1975. It is unknown how many children have been injured and lost limbs as a result of playing near or with land mines but over 250,000 children are registered with the United Nations having received prosthetic limbs.

Real estate, which has not been cleared of unexploded (UXO) land mines inhibit potential investment and development opportunities. The land is prevented from returning to economic usefulness, i.e., farming, manufacturing, retailing or residential housing. Land mines are so prevalent in many areas that economic recovery, reconciliation and long-term development are nearly impossible.

Land mines are still being manufactured, sold and exported in sixteen countries: Eight in Asia, three in Europe, three in the Middle East and two in the Americas. The best estimates suggest that there are still more than one hundred million active land mines in place, around the world. An additional 250 million mines are stockpiled and another two and a half million are deployed every year. The estimated cost of remediation is US $33 billion.

Mr. Mark Struhs, President and CEO of Applied Engineering Products Company (AEPC), announced the receipt of the first order for the manufacture of its robotic anti-personnel and anti-vehicular land mine removal equipment, known as the "RE-LEM." The United States Army in accordance with a partnering agreement with AEPC that calls for the manufacture of the RE-LEM by the Army's largest munitions depot has now reached a formal agreement. According to Mr. Struhs, "He is on target as anticipated for the first units to be purchased by humanitarian organizations that share the common goal, to make the world a safer place for civilians exposed to military conflict."

Today Mr. Struhs announced receipt of a letter from Ms. Debra Watkins the president of Minerelief Global Business Council Inc. (MRGBC). MRGBC is organized under the Tax Exempt Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable and educational purposes. The specific purpose of this corporation is to educate and inform the public about the dangers posed by anti-personnel mine fields in various parts of the world, and provide humanitarian support and safe efficient means of remediation.

The Council also provides accountability and oversight for funds raised, funds distributed and results achieved. One of the functions of the Council is to research and develop relationships with other companies who have the equipment and technology to provide better and safer solutions in land mine remediation and removal. MRGBC will alleviate the burden of local governments trying to develop business relationships with research/development and engineering companies such as AEPC.

According to Mr. Struhs the letter stated, "It is MRGBC's understanding AEPC's technology has been developed using a robotic platform for the remediation of anti-personnel land mines through remote control. Which completely eliminates any danger, injury or death to humans. Based on our preliminary research we have confirmed your equipment has been tested and proven to be reliable and robust enough in design to stand up to the hostile environment of a minefield."

The purpose of the letter was also to inform AEPC, in September of 2004, MRGBC entered into an extensive research program and due diligence examination of the performance criteria of AEPC's equipment. According to Ms. Watkins' letter, she is pleased to inform Mr. Struhs that AEPC has proven to have superior equipment and the board is reviewing a formal agreement for training purposes. The board will also be reviewing additional aspects of the remediation process including technical and specialized training support, deployment of personnel, on-site remediation and all post-remediation development of cleared sites with AEPC's management team.

AEPC anticipates that this is the first step in providing the RE-LEM to organizations, contractors and many of those countries affected by these unexploded devices, and developing long-term relationships with non-profit humanitarian organizations for the remediation and economic conversion of former battlefields in more than seventy-five countries worldwide. Mr. Struhs stated, "This is another milestone achieved... for all of those involved in the worldwide problems that [land mines] create."

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