Aqua Metals Adds to Operations Team with Appointments of Keith King and Michael Krickel

Seasoned Lead Recycling Leaders to Oversee Launch and Operations of Worlds’ First AquaRefinery

ALAMEDA, Calif., March 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQMS) (“Aqua Metals” or the “Company”), which is commercializing a non-polluting electrochemical lead recycling technology called AquaRefining™, has added to its operations team by appointing Keith King as Plant Manager and Michael Krickel as Director of Recycling Technology. Together they will join the team leading the commissioning and startup of the world’s first AquaRefining facility at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRIC) in Nevada. The two leaders bring deep expertise in lead recycling, as well as facility operations and management.

“Keith brings a continuous improvement mindset and a people focus that, coupled with his natural drive and enthusiasm, makes him a perfect fit to lead our operations at TRIC. This is an important role, and we are delighted to have such a strong leader on the team,” said Selwyn Mould, chief operating officer of Aqua Metals. Selwyn then added, “Michael has a vast knowledge and experience of lead recycling in all its forms and is dedicated to health and safety. He is a natural communicator and teacher.  After meeting him I knew that we had to have him on the team.”

Keith King will oversee recycling operations, human resources, health and safety, and environmental compliance. He draws upon more than a decade of facility operations management and a history of driving continuous improvement through structured problem solving, kaizen and six sigma techniques. Prior to joining Aqua Metals, Keith spent several years managing safety and performance improvement for a major lead recycler and rose to the role of plant superintendent. He also consulted for a number of operations and engineering companies, where he focused on technology integration, continuous improvement and training. He also served as regional operations and site manager for Transfield Services.

“Given my background in the lead industry, the opportunity to be involved in a game-changing and revolutionary company like Aqua Metals was impossible to pass up,” Keith noted. “I am looking forward to bringing my skills and experience to the task of making the AquaRefinery the new benchmark for lead recycling.”  

Michael Krickel will be responsible for bringing best practice techniques, methodologies and processes to all aspects of recycling. Michael brings more than 20 years of lead recycling experience – including the start up of recycling facilities in Mexico and the United States – with companies including Exide, Johnson Controls and Retriev Technologies. He has a strong background in developing manufacturing best practices and solving complex operations challenges. Michael has been instrumental in making safety and performance improvements in many facilities, both in the United States and around the world. 

“I have a passion for lead and lead recycling,” said Michael. “When I heard what Aqua Metals was doing and saw the technology, I knew that I had to be part of it.”

Keith King holds an A.S. in chemistry from the University of Maryland, as well as a B.S. in general sciences from Wilmington University. He has served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. National Guard. Michael Krickel is a six sigma black belt with certification experience in TS16949, ISO 9000 and ISO 14000.

About Aqua Metals
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ:AQMS) is reinventing lead recycling with its patented AquaRefining technology. Unlike smelting, AquaRefining is a room temperature, water based process that is fundamentally non-polluting. These modular systems allow the lead acid battery industry to simultaneously improve environmental impact and scale production to meet rapidly growing demand. Aqua Metals is based in Alameda, California, and is building its first recycling facility in Nevada’s Tahoe Reno Industrial Complex. To learn more, please visit www.aquametals.com

Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Aqua Metals, Inc., the lead acid battery recycling industry, the future of lead acid battery recycling via traditional smelters, the Company’s development of its commercial lead acid battery recycling facilities and the quality, efficiency and profitability of the Company’s proposed lead acid battery recycling operations. Those forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Among those factors are: (1) the fact that Company has not yet commenced revenue producing operations or developed its initial commercial recycling facility, thus subjecting the Company to all of the risks inherent in a pre-revenue start-up; (2) risks related to Aqua Metals’ ability to raise sufficient capital, as and when needed, to develop and operate its recycling facilities; (3) changes in the federal, state and foreign laws regulating the recycling of lead acid batteries; (4) the Company’s ability to protect its proprietary technology, trade secrets and know-how and (5) those other risks disclosed in the section “Risk Factors” included in the final prospectus relating to the Company’s IPO filed with the SEC on July 31, 2015. Aqua Metals cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.

Aqua Metals Media Relations:
Antenna
Brigit Carlson
Senior Account Executive
201-465-8031
aquametals@antennagroup.com

Aqua Metals Investor Relations:
MZ North America
Greg Falesnik
Senior Vice President
Main: 949-385-6449
greg.falesnik@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us

Released March 28, 2016