Ajinomoto Aminoscience LLC Celebrates 25th Anniversary.

Local Company Shares Years of Community Involvement and Looks to the Future with Exciting Plans for Growth

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Ajinomoto AminoScience LLC ("Ajinomoto"), the world wide manufacturing leader of amino acids (www.ajiaminoscience.com), is celebrating 25 years of manufacturing and supply from its Raleigh location. As an active member of the community and employer of over 120 North Carolina residents, the company is very proud to commemorate this milestone.

Ajinomoto AminoScience LLC is part of a global corporation, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan who employs over 25,000 employees globally with sales in excess of US $10 billion annually. The North Carolina location contributes to the bottom line of company operations by manufacturing several key products for the company. Ajinomoto is the only US amino acid facility that manufactures, packages, and inventories cGMP and Drug Master File (DMF) pharmaceutical grade amino acids, for the biotech, intravenous, pharmaceutical, food, and supplement industries.

Commissioned in 1981 and completed in 1982, Ajinomoto AminoScience LLC occupies 120 acres just off Poole Road in Wake County. The company originally hired 49 employees to work at their Raleigh, NC location. Twenty of these employees are still working at the facility. "It's been a place where you can learn new things, in a family atmosphere, with the opportunity for growth and knowledge," says Gary Faw, 25-year employee.

Ajinomoto places a high priority on contributing to the community and utilizing manufacturing methods that have the least impact on the environment. In fact, Ajinomoto partnered with the City of Raleigh, in 1989, to utilize methane gas from the nearby landfill. As the sole user of this gas, Ajinomoto is able to reduce greenhouse emissions. The company received an award for this technique from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Wise Program. Ajinomoto is proud to have an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certification, which is a voluntary environmental management program, and strives to continue its partnership with the state on numerous programs to reduce energy consumption, pollution, and water conservation.

Through local outreach Ajinomoto touches the community, helps the residents in times of need, and improves the environment in which we live. Currently, employees are gearing up to help with the Neuse River clean-up efforts. Past activities include involvement with the American Red Cross, United Way, Special Olympics, several food banks, and women's shelters, as well as education programs, such as those offered by Wake Technical Community College.

Ajinomoto AminoScience LLC recently completed a $40 million expansion of its Raleigh facility. The facility now has the capacity to manufacture additional amino acid products that will be sold in the US and globally. The Raleigh expansion project was part of a $200 million Ajinomoto worldwide expansion program.

"The global demand for amino acids is rapidly expanding, especially in the areas of improving the health of people worldwide," says Jack Heaton, President of Ajinomoto AminoScience LLC. "Many of our employees have been with us since the beginning and have seen many changes. As I look around the site, I see pride and excitement in the eyes of our employees. I know the next 25 years will bring continued growth as we advance the science of amino acids."

ABOUT AJINOMOTO AMINOSCIENCE LLC

Ajinomoto AminoScience LLC is a part of Ajinomoto USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. The Raleigh, NC plant has been in operation since 1982 and continues to be the only pharmaceutical L-amino acid manufacturer in the United States. In addition, the facility offers patented amino acid production technology, full capacity operations 7/24/365, secured supply lines and warehouse facilities, blending and pulverization services, complete analytical and technical support, non-animal manufacturing, operation under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), and custom labeling and packaging. Being a subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc, allows for global sourcing and pricing. Our parent company continues to lead the industry in production technology, global supply and nutrition research for amino acids.