Orbite Continues to Build Intellectual Property Portfolio with Two Patent Allowance Notices in Russia and China

MONTREAL, Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Orbite Aluminae (TSX: ORT) (OTCQX: EORBF) (the "Company" or "Orbite"), a leading provider of clean technology and developer of alumina projects, today announced it recently received a notice of allowance for two patent applications in Russia and in China for its alumina extraction technology.  This unique process is for extracting aluminum from aluminous ores and efficient separation of iron from aluminum resulting in the production of high-purity alumina (HPA) or smelter-grade alumina (SGA). 

Orbite has already been issued six patents for this same technology: two in Canada, two in the United States (the most recent on August 14, 2012), and recently added two important ones in Australia (the most recent on July 26, 2012).  

"Building the Company's intellectual property portfolio is a vital part of our long-term growth potential, and we are pleased with the ongoing progress in this area. Acceptance of our patent applications in strategic countries like Russia, China and Australia where demand for alumina is high could greatly expand our licensing opportunities.  It further ascertains the uniqueness of Orbite's innovations abroad" said Richard Boudreault, President and CEO of Orbite. 

"It also confirms to our current and potential partners in Russia and China that the patentability of our technologies has been recognized in their countries, which will facilitate our negotiations with them," he added.

Newly Appointed Executives
Orbite also announced that it is continuing to grow and strengthen its executive team by adding the following key positions to its staff: 

• Marc Johnson, CFA – Vice President, Investor Relations
  Mr. Johnson brings over 15 years of experience in equity research, investment banking, and business management in the natural resources and technology sectors. Most recently he was a Mining Analyst at M Partners, an Investment Bank, where he regularly followed Orbite for more than two years. As Vice President of Investor Relations, he will be responsible for implementing a cohesive strategy and managing relationships with institutional investors. Mr. Johnson holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Concordia University and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
• Berthier Lavoie – Director, Human Resources
  Mr. Lavoie is a member of the Order of Certified Industrial Relations Counsellors (CIRC) and holds a bachelor of industrial relations degree from the Universite de Montreal. He has over 30 years of experience in human resource management. Mr. Lavoie participated in the launch of the Bell Helicopter factory in Mirabel, and it was there that he developed his solid expertise in the various facets of human resource management.
• Antoine Charbonneau, Eng., CPA, CMA, MBA, M.Eng – Director, Sales and Marketing
  Mr. Charbonneau has over 12 years of experience in various aspects of developing high-value technology materials businesses across Canada and the United States. His areas of expertise include: international business development, contract negotiation, and business strategy. Mr. Charbonneau holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from McGill University, a Master's in Industrial Engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, and an MBA from Universite du Quebec a Montreal.  He has also earned a Graduate Certificate in Administration and Management from Harvard University, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Management Accounting from Concordia University. His responsibilities at Orbite will include business development, promotion, and sales on a global scale.

About Orbite

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian cleantech company whose innovative technologies are setting the new standard for alumina production. Orbite technologies enable environmentally-neutral extraction of smelter-grade alumina (SGA), high-purity alumina (HPA) and high-value elements, including rare earths and rare metals, from a variety of sources such as aluminous clay and bauxite, without generating the toxic red mud residue that the traditional Bayer process produces. The Company owns eleven different families of intellectual property rights (and patents pending) filed across the world for the extraction of alumina at the highest standards of sustainability. Orbite also owns exclusive mining rights over a total of 60,984 hectares, including the 6,665-hectare Grande-Vallee property, the site of an aluminous clay deposit in Quebec, Canada.  An NI 43-101 compliant report, Reviewed Preliminary Economic Assessment, dated May 30, 2012 identified over 1 billion tonnes of aluminous clay in part of this deposit. Orbite is currently converting its 2,600 m² pilot plant in Cap-Chat, Quebec, Canada, into a full-scale high-purity alumina production facility, and expects this plant to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2013. The Company also anticipates the launch of construction of its first SGA plant towards the end of 2013. Orbite plans to offer SGA and HPA products and to license its low processing cost technologies to well-qualified producers who want to reduce their environmental footprint. Orbite has recently entered into partnerships with the world's largest aluminum producer, UC Rusal.

Forward-looking statements

Certain information contained in this document may include "forward-looking information". Without limiting the foregoing, the information and any forward-looking information may include statements regarding projects, costs, objectives and future returns of the Company or hypotheses underlying these items. In this document, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are based on information available at the time and/or the Company management's good-faith beliefs with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These risks uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described in the section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) entitled "Risk and Uncertainties" as filed on March 22, 2012 on SEDAR, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it undertake, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements contained in this document to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Orbite Aluminae Inc.