WEEE Man

Canon Europe, and the RSA, Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, have unveiled the WEEE Man. The giant sculpture is the focal point of a joint environmental awareness initiative that aims to get the disposal of electrical and electronic goods as widely accepted by consumers and businesses as the recycling of newspapers, glass bottles and aluminium cans. It is composed of electronic and electrical waste and represents the amount of electrical appliance and electronic waste that an average person in the UK is likely to produce in their lifetime. Source: VNUNET

RoHS R&D Innovation in China

The Second Motorola China Technology Symposium, to be held in Beijing on April 28 and 29, will bring together more than 400 hundred researchers and technologists from Motorola, leading research institutions and technology companies from across China. Celebrating joint successes with Motorola’s local partners and further promoting technology growth in China, the symposium will also help promote R&D collaboration around the latest developments in telecommunications technologies. "We are pleased that with Motorola's education and support we have conducted training on the latest progress of European's rules on WEEE/RoHS to many companies in China". Source: i-Newswire

Chip Suppliers Offer RoHS Advice

Two seminars offering firms advice on how to prepare for the EU RoHS and WEEE Directives are taking place this month. Distributor EBV Elektronik has joined with one of its franchises Freescale Semiconductor to run two seminars in May aimed at providing advice on moving towards lead-free component sourcing and production. The seminars will take place at the Coppid Beech Hotel, Bracknell, on Monday 9th May and at the Manchester International Office Centre, Manchester, on Tuesday 10th May. Source: Electronics Weekly

RoHS Seminar in Tijuana

Kester will host a lead-free seminar titled, "Project 2005: Achieving Lead-free RoHS Assembly" on May 10 in Orange County, CA and May 12 in Tijuana, Mexico. Guest speakers will present on behalf of KIC and Metcal. The seminar claims to offer proven, practical information on both lead-free assembly and RoHS compliance. The seminar does not concentrate on specific consumer applications. It offers information and case studies to make reliable lead-free products that are RoHS compliant. Source: Circuits Assembly

Unique Part Numbers for RoHS-Compliant Components

The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI), an industry-led consortium focused on strengthening the global electronics manufacturing supply chain, today announced that the majority of its OEM and EMS members strongly support the use of unique part numbers for RoHS-compliant components. The consortium released the following statement:

Demonstrating and certifying compliance with RoHS is a complex undertaking made more difficult by the electronics industry's distributed design and manufacturing supply chains and the incompatibility between the current tin-lead (SnPb) and RoHS-compliant lead-free manufacturing processes. Industry must have means of differentiating RoHS-compliant products that is common across all of the companies involved in, or contributing to, product manufacture, including component suppliers, component distributors, EMS providers, OEMs and their design partners. We are convinced that the only practical way to accomplish this goal is through separate part numbers that can clearly identify RoHS compliance and manufacturing process compatibility.

Source: Business Wire

RoHS-Compliant Switch Guide

NKK Switches has announced the release of its latest Switch Guide complete with new RoHS-compliant switches. Designed to help engineers specify the right switch for their applications, the easy-to-use guide is organized by actuator types for more than 80 switch families with 3-D cutaways and detailed specifications. Source: EEProductCenter

RoHS-Compliant Replacement ICs

Innovasic Inc., a developer of replacement integrated circuits, today announced it has released RoHS-compliant versions of its replacement integrated circuits for the AMD(R) Am186/Am188 family of 16-bit and 8-bit embedded microcontrollers. Production units are now available for immediate shipment. Innovasic is the only vendor to offer these parts in the specific packaging required by the European Economic Union (EEU) for compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. Source: Business Wire

RoHS Legislation and Technical Manual

A recognised source of information for design engineers and purchasers faced with the compliance demands of the EU's complex Restriction of the use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, Farnell InOne has added to its range of support services with the publication of the RoHS Legislation and Technical Manual. Available to customers free via the Farnell InOne website - www.farnellinone.co.uk - the manual contains an introduction to RoHS, the Farnell InOne Step by Step Guide to Compliance, detailed information about the substances affected, a chapter on soldering and a closing environmental section. Source: PandCT

RoHS Compliant 4-Gbit/s Transceiver

Fujikura Europe introduces its new 4Gbps optical transceiver for the fibre channel and GbE markets from Sigma-links, the joint venture between its parent company Fujikura Ltd and OKI Electric Industry Co. Ltd. Totally backward compatible with slower speeds (1 and 2 Gbps) the 4Gbps transceiver can smartly adapt without the need for rate-select functionality. It is fully compliant with the new European legislation affecting the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS). Source: Light Reading

Agile and PRTM to Hold RoHS Compliance Discussion

This one-hour RoHS discussion will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2005, at 8 a.m., at the Hilton Santa Clara, 4949 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, California. Agile and PRTM are hosting this panel to facilitate discussion about these environmental directives among senior executives in the high-tech industry. Source: i-Newswire

Philips Achieves 80% RoHS Compliance

Royal Philips Electronics introduces an environmental program milestone. Philips has acted on the EU legislation on Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in 2005, where 80 percent of its CRT monitors were fully RoHS compliant at the end of 2004. The first CRT - the 107T6 - was introduced in November 2004, 18 months ahead of the planned EU directive. The RoHS directive will come into effect per 1 July 2006 and will ban lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium 6+ and two brominated flame-retardants from electronic products. Source: AME Info

RoHS: Time is Running Out for Business Comply

The RoHS(Restriction on the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive is potentially the biggest issue to hit electronics manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in living memory. The trouble is, an alarmingly high number of people who should know better have never heard of it and have little idea of what they need to do to comply. Under the EU Directive - which is due to be enforced in the UK from July 1, 2006 - manufacturers, importers, brand owners, and potentially even retailers, of electrical goods must be able to demonstrate their products are RoHS compliant and do not exceed threshold limits for six toxic substances. Source: EDIE

Free RoHS Manual Explains Legislation

Available to customers free via the Farnell InOne website, the manual contains an introduction to RoHS, a step by step guide to compliance, detailed information about the substances affected, a chapter on soldering and a closing environmental section. Source: Electronics Talk

RoHS Compliance and Industry Standardization

Among the challenges for RoHS compliance reporting are the following:

1. Different interpretations of the RoHS directive.
2. No standard survey format
3. No standard reporting format.
4. Lack of standardization in material declaration forms.
5. High costs associated with supporting different reporting formats for nearly every customer.

As a result of different customer interpretations of RoHS compliance many firms are not able to provide a broad RoHS compliance statement for all products to customers. Instead, they check for RoHS compliance on an individual part number basis, in response to customer requests. Source: EETimes

Conference on RoHS / Lead Free Electronics

The electronics industry is racing to meet the European Union's (EU's) RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive where all affected electrical equipment sold in Europe after July 1, 2006, will be required to be lead free. To help the industry prepare for this momentous change, IPC and Soldertec Global -- a division of Tin Technology, are sponsoring the 3rd International Conference on Lead Free Electronics on June 7-10, 2005, in Barcelona, Spain. Source: EMSNow

Deca-BDE Exemption from EU RoHS

EU Member States voted on 19th April on the Commission's proposal for a Decision to exempt the flame retardant Deca-BDE from the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. The majority of EU Member State votes were in favour of Deca-BDE's exemption from the RoHS Directive. The proposal did not reach the necessary qualified majority (72.3% of the votes) to be adopted immediately. The proposal will now be sent to the EU Council of Ministers which will have a maximum of three months to adopt a decision. Source: EMSNow

RoHS Compliant LCD Monitors

Philips yesterday announced its new generation of LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors, which are the first to be in compliance with EU's RoHS directive. The line of monitors, which Philips dubbed "Perfect Panel," is available in 15", 17", 19", and 20". Philips expressed that the LCD screens utilize state-of-the-art technology, which will provide viewers with an impeccable viewing experience. Source: China Post

IPC-1752 Draft to Help RoHS Compliance

A new standard for simplifying materials declaration being jointly developed by several leading trade groups will be circulated for industry review in June. In a joint statement, IPC, iNEMI and RosettaNet said the draft of IPC-1752 will be released for a 60-day industry review on June 1. The standard will integrate existing efforts, including recommendations from a pair of iNEMI projects plus RosettaNet's e-business process standards for material composition. The new standard is said to provide a uniform data format to reduce the cost and complexity of RoHS compliance. Source: Circuits Assembly

New IPC Standard for RoHS Data

IPC--Association Connecting Electronics Industries(R), the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) and RosettaNet today announced development of a new IPC standard that will establish electronic data formats and supporting standardized forms to simplify the exchange of materials declaration information between trading partners in the electronics industry. This standard will integrate and leverage existing industry efforts in this area, including recommendations from the iNEMI Materials Declaration and Material Composition Data (MCD) Exchange projects and RosettaNet's e-business process standards for material composition. Source: Business Wire

Re-engineering Products for RoHS

"The biggest issue for companies is, 'Oh, my gosh, I ship 40 percent of my product to Europe. Do I want a 40 percent drop in revenue come the RoHS deadline of July 1, 2006?' That's bigger than a 2 percent hit to profits from recycling fees, or whatever it would end up being. I have had to re-engineer my product for RoHS." Source: ESM

Webinar on RoHS Compliance

Omnify Software, a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software for mid-market electronic, medical, mechanical, and defense OEMs, will host a Webinar on April 27, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. EDT to help manufacturers address important regulations and compliance issues resulting from the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directives introduced by the European Union (EU). Source: Business Wire

SMTA Wizards Help with RoHS

Two new software applications for materials and RoHS declaration are available from the Surface Mount Technology Association's Web site. For small to medium size enterprises with RoHS-related obligations, the Material Declaration Wizard (MDW) is an automated substance-level data collection software that certifies and distributes RoHS substance information. Source: Circuits Assembly

LaBarge Offers RoHS/Lead-Free Capability

LaBarge, Inc. has fully integrated a completely lead-free manufacturing process into its electronics manufacturing services capabilities. LaBarge handles the
materials, manufacture and testing of assemblies for customers whose products must comply with new European environmental legislation including ROHS. Source: PR Newswire

RoHS Compliant TDK DC-DC Converters

TDK Corporation is pleased to anounce that it has developed and started mass production of its CC-E Series of compact insulated DC-DC converters for use in communications devices and industrial equipment. By using TDK original high-capacitance, multilayer ceramic capacitors, the use of aluminum electrolyte capacitors and tantalum capacitors can be avoided for enhanced reliability, safety, and environmental performance including RoHS compliance. Source: JCN Network

Japanese Version of ROHS

The Environment ministry of Japan plans to compile a Japanese version of the ROHS, limiting concentration levels of hazardous substances and requiring products carrying them to be labeled. Source: Daily Tomiuri

RoHS Compliant Eighth-Brick DC/DC Convertors

Ideal for systems employing distributed power architectures, the new PAE50/100 series of RoHS-compliant eighth-brick DC/DC convertors from Lambda delivers high power within a compact footprint, with increased efficiency and hence reduced system heating. Source: Electronics Talk

Solectron Hosts Environmental Compliance Roundtable

Solectron Corporation, a leading provider of electronics manufacturing and integrated supply chain services, today hosted an environmental compliance roundtable discussion with representatives from the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the American Electronics Association (AeA) and London-based law firm Allen & Overy at Solectron's Milpitas, Calif., headquarters. The event was held in anticipation of new regulations banning the sale of six hazardous substances in Europe. Solectron customers were invited to the event, which also included a tour of Solectron's environmental compliance operations. Source: TMCnet

RoHS Directive Triggers Change in Electric, Electronics Industries

Manufacturers and government agencies in Taiwan are gearing up to satisfy the requirements of two E.U. environmental protection regulations promulgated Feb. 13, 2003--the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Directive. The United States and Japan, China is expected to soon pass its own version of the E.U. directives to make sure that components imported from Taiwan and other countries are in compliance with the new standards. Source: Taiwan Government Information Office

RoHS Compliant Products Catalogue

FARNELL InOne has released the electronics industry's first RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances) Directive compliant catalogue of electronic components. Containing more than 1,600 RoHS compliant products, from suppliers such as National Semiconductor, EPCOS and AVX, the first issue is being mailed to 160,000 customers across 13 countries including Australia and New Zealand. Also contained in the catalogue is 'A Step-by-Step Guide to Compliance with the RoHS Directive', a countdown to compliance, and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. Source: FARNELL InOne

The Realities of RoHS Compliance

Recent industry reports cite a growing sense of frustration within the distribution community regarding the lack of RoHS data emerging from the component manufacturers. This frustration has escalated to a point where some distributors are openly considering removing certain franchises from their line cards. Only time will tell if these hollow threats mark the beginning of a change in the supply chain landscape. One thing is certain: those distributors that have embraced the green issue will undoubtedly win market share. Source: Electronics Weekly

European Parliament Slams RoHS Commission

For the first time since the adoption of regulations guiding the decision-making processes for European Commission committees in 1999, the European Parliament stated this week that the Commission had exceeded its implementing powers regarding the Commission's work waste handling. Parliament found that the Commission gave RoHS exemptions where alternatives were clearly available, thus exceeding its mandate. The Commission is now obliged to re-examine the draft decision. Source: Bellona

New EU Export Rules Addressed

Trade officials are advising companies to be informed about new directives that will soon take effect for businesses exporting to European Union countries. The directives, including Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) and Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE), are requirements companies must meet before they are allowed to export goods into EU countries. The EU allows "no risk" when it comes to the amount of substances electrical equipment and electronic products can contain, unlike the United States, which allows "little risk". Substances to be limited include lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium and cadmium. Source: KnoxNews

LCD Modules Meet RoHS Requirements Early

All Hitachi Display Products Group LCD modules produced after 1st April 2005 are fully compliant with the European RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) Directive. Source: Electronics Talk

RoHS: Co-ordinating the Supply Chain

The effects of RoHS on the supply chain reach far beyond the simple question of equipment being lead-free. It encompasses a transparent information policy at a much higher level than before. Read on for more on who needs what information when. Source: Electronics Weekly

RoHS Compliant Flash Memory Cards and DRAM Modules

ATP Electronics Inc., a premium manufacturer of high performance and quality memory products, today announced it has begun productions of RoHS compliant products. All ATP flash memory cards (SD, MMC, miniSD, RS-MMC) are fully RoHS compliant and are shipping immediately, with DRAM modules to achieve full compliance by end of 2005. SGS GROUP, a world-renowned testing and certification organization, performed ATP RoHS compliance tests. Source: PR Web

KEMET Extends Capacitance Values for Commercial X7R Ceramic Products

KEMET Corporation today announced the addition of several new high capacitance offerings to its commercial X7R ceramic surface mount portfolio. New releases offer capacitance ranges from 0.012 microfarads to 10 microfarads in 0402, 0603, 0805, and 1206 EIA case sizes at rated voltages of 6.3V, 10V and 16V. Newest capacitance values are available in the X7R dielectric and in K (+/-10%) and M (+/-20%) tolerances. All parts are environmentally friendly, in compliance with RoHS legislation. Source: KEMET

Standard Fan Range Now RoHS Compliant

All hazardous substances defined in the European RoHS Directive (2003/95/EC) have now been removed from NMB-Minebea standard fan products. Source: ElectronicsTalk

Providing Lead-Free RoHS Data

Customers are looking to distributors for information about which parts are RoHS complaint. Some manufacturers are making both lead-free and leaded products at least for awhile so inventory has to be segregated. In other cases, some component manufacturers are making lead-free parts while others have not. source: purchasing.com

Marconi Tests Lead-Free Reliability

Concerned about long-term reliability in lead-free telecom equipment, Marconi has initiated an accelerated life testing program. Marconi expects to have results of its RoHS and WEEE Directive project at the end of April.

Workshop on EU Environmental Legislation

On Tuesday, April 19, 2005, Radio Frequency Investigations (RFI) and Elliott Laboratories will present a training workshop in Sunnyvale, CA, to give more information on the expected impact of RoHS and WEEE legislation. $495 per person; discounts are available for groups of 2 or more.

RoHS 'Lunch 'n' Learn' Seminars from Avnet

Avnet Electronics Marketing, an operating group of Avnet Inc, announces North American regional seminars on RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) compliance and Avnet's recommended solutions, scheduled at Avnet's customers' own facilities.

Axiz Leads Lead-Free Manufacturing

The transition to lead-free/RoHS-compliant components is an enormous undertaking and an important part of the supply chain. Axiz is environmentally responsible and has chosen to invest in a lead-free environment.

RoHS Compliant Symmetrical Cable for VFDs

Olflex VFD symmetrical cable is designed for use in large horsepower variable frequency drives. Large gauge (AWG), lead-free, and RoHS compliant cable has three symmetrical grounds, longitudinally applied copper tape shield, and a black PVC outer jacket. Copper tape shield pro-vides 100% protection from EMI and RFI effects. Product is available in sizes from 1 AWG to 500 KCMIL for 75 hp and larger drives with a temperature range of –20 to 90 °C. It conforms to CE low-voltage directives.

Kester Hosts Lead-Free RoHS Assembly Seminar in Mexico

Kester has announced that it will host a lead-free seminar titled, "Project 2005: Achieving Lead-free RoHS Assembly" on Tuesday, May 3, 2005, in Nogales, Mexico. Kester Project 2005 has been created to offer only proven, practical information in reference to both Lead-Free Assembly and RoHS Compliancy. It is the most complete seminar of its kind in the Americas. It is free to the public and breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Consequences of Ignoring RoHS

Companies have agreed to comply with RoHS without changing their part numbers. Word on the street is that they’re already getting some of the older parts back, and they can’t tell what’s what. So how do they test in batches of hundreds of thousands? Apparently no one knows the answer to that question.

RoHS Compliant DC-18 GHz Hermetic Semiconductor Packages from StratEdge

StratEdge Corporation, leader in the design and production of packages for high speed semiconductors, introduces the G1616M-7 discrete semiconductor hermetic package for broadband applications. These DC-18 GHz drop-in packages have twelve leads. All packages are lead-free and meet RoHS and WEEE standards.

RoHS Compliant Power Supply from Emerson Network Power

To address the demanding requirements of high-density applications, Emerson Network Power has expanded the popular Astec DS Series of high-density AC/DC distributed bulk power front-end power supplies. This power supply also incorporates full RoHS compliance and meets tantalum-cap-free industry requirements.

Lead-Free Solder Process from Schafer Electronics

Shafer Electronics Company has announced the availability of a lead-free and RoHS compliant solder process. To lean more about Shafer, please visit our Internet site at http://www.shaferelectronics.com

Low-Cost Global RoHS Compliant Suppliers

Many electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers have transitioned manufacturing to China and other Asian countries to reduce labor costs. However, EMS companies are also able to reduce material cost by purchasing in those same areas. It’s not uncommon for parts to sell for 20% less in China than in North America. Component data including end life data, forward pricing index information or data about the Restriction on the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) can help make better strategic decisions about components and suppliers. RoHS bans the use of lead in electronics equipment sold in Europe beginning in 2006. For instance, there may be a component that is inexpensive, but if it is not RoHS compliant, it could result in a system not being able to be sold Europe.