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New Mining Accidents in China Underscore Market Need for QuadTech International's iPMine Mine Safety Technology

Posted on: Tuesday, 8 August 2006, 12:00 CDT

QuadTech International, Inc. (OTCBB: QTII) (FRANKFURT: QI9), a global provider of leading-edge Internet and IP-based technology solutions for the mining industry, reported today that recent, large-scale mining accidents in China have underscored the market need for new mine safety technologies, such as iPMine, the real-time two-way wireless communications solution that QuadTech is currently marketing in the region.

The death toll from the latest coal mine explosion at the Linjiazhuang coal mine in the northern Chinese province of Shanxi was recently adjusted to 57, following the inability of rescuers to locate seven missing miners now feared dead. This tragedy narrowly surpasses an accident on May 18 at the Xinjing mine also in Shanxi as the most deadly coal mining disaster in China this year.

Last month, the bodies of 55 miners were finally recovered from the Xinjing mine, which flooded more than a month earlier, and one person is still missing, according to the State Administration of Work Safety. The previous most deadly reported accident in China this year occurred on April 29, when 32 people were killed after a gas explosion in a privately run coal mine also in Shanxi province.

"On July 15 alone, 89 miners lost their lives in three separate accidents in Chinese mines, with the explosion at the Linjiazhuang coal mine also marking the third accident of escalating magnitude in as many months. These incidents dramatically highlight the importance of implementing a mine safety and enhanced communications system, such as our iPMine product, in China and other parts of the world," said QuadTech CEO John Meier. "iPMine provides tools to assist in search and rescue efforts as well as mitigate human loss and disruption of mining operations."

According to the United States Mine Rescue Association, an international advocate for improved mine rescue training, nearly 640 miners have died and more than 170 others remain missing in mining-related accidents in China through the first seven months of this year. Because this is data compiled from news reports, it is widely believed that the actual death toll may be substantially greater and already may number in the thousands.

About the Mining and Mine Safety Industries in China

China comprises more than 280,000 mining enterprises, of which 80,000 are state-owned. In February 2005, the Chinese State Administration of Work Safety allocated US$6.3 billion to be spent over the subsequent three years to improve mine safety at all state-owned mines. The Chinese government also is offering all mining enterprises, whether state-owned or privately-owned, a 15 percent tax credit incentive to upgrade mine safety technologies.

Mine safety has been a major issue in the Chinese mining industry, with more than 6,000 miners killed in mining-related accidents in China last year; independent estimates say the real figure could be as high as 20,000. According to Chinese government statistics, more than 12.2 million people were employed as miners in 2005, and approximately 7.0 million of these were coal miners.

About iPMine

iPMine is a real-time two-way wireless communications solution designed to significantly improve the safety of miners and equipment in virtually any size mine. iPMine tracks, monitors, and communicates with miners and equipment underground and above ground. Location information of both miners and equipment is collected and displayed live on one or more monitoring stations against a background of a mine's terrain map.

iPMine's scalability and flexibility features make it ideal to be deployed in any size mine supporting multiple levels and/or sites. iPMine's redundant communications feature makes the system highly reliable to efficiently operate in the harsh mining environment.

About QuadTech International, Inc.

QuadTech International, Inc. is a global provider of leading-edge Internet and IP-based technology solutions. It owns the exclusive worldwide sales and marketing rights for the iPMine System and aims to create value for its shareholders by making iPMine the leading global safety product for the mining industry. QuadTech also develops partnerships and/or acquires control in high-growth, small to medium sized companies and solutions that support its technology-driven business focus. For more information, please visit www.quadtechint.com.

Safe Harbor -- This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, product delivery, the management of growth, market acceptance of certain products and other risks. These forward-looking statements are made in reliance on the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For further information about these factors that could affect QuadTech International, Inc. future results, please contact the Company directly. Prospective investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations.

 Contact: Panascope Capital 818-882-7722  

SOURCE: QuadTech International, Inc.

Source: MARKET WIRE

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