Dual-Output, RoHS-Compliant DC-DC Converters

"Lambda has introduced the dual-output RoHS compliant PSD series. The 1.5- to 10-watt converters are suitable for applications ranging from factory automation to communications equipment. The series comprises 16 models, with power ratings of 1.5, 3, 6 and 10 watts; each power rating can be supplied with a choice of 5-, 12-, 24- and 48-volt input voltages and an adjustable output of ±12 to ±15 volts. The dual output can also be configured as a 24- or 30-volt single output." Source: ECNAsia

Touch Panels Feature RoHS-Compliant Construction

"Lead (Pb)-free touch panels in 4- and 7-wire resistive touch panel line are manufactured with gold-plated, flat, flexible cable. Products include film-glass and film-film-plastic touch panels in sizes from 1.9–17.3 in. Options such as high-transparency panels, anti-reflection coatings, anti-glare treatments, and circularly polarized filters are also available, making series suitable for high-ambient light and outdoor applications." Source: ThomasNet

RoHS Assembly Seminar in Minneapolis

"Kester has announced that it will host a lead-free seminar titled, "Project 2005: Achieving Lead-free RoHS Assembly" on Thursday, June 16, 2005 in Minneapolis, MN. The Project 2005 seminar series is designed to assist the electronic industry in the successful transition to lead-free soldering and RoHS compliancy. It will address key lead-free assembly issues and give you technical, practical and proven information to transition in a timely fashion so your company can maintain reliability and production yields. The seminar is purely technical and void of commercialism." Source: EMSNow

Compact DC/DCs Meet RoHS Requirements

"The SC10N series from Semiconductor Circuits, in a single inline package measuring just 2-by-0.55-by-0.35 inches, is the company's next-generation of RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances) compliant DC/DC converters. Available in three models providing up to 10 amps at 1 to 5 VDC from a nominal 3.3-, 5-, or 12-volt input, the (nonisolated) series features a typical line regulation of 0.1 percent, load regulation of 0.25 percent, ripple and noise of 35 mV p-p, and efficiency of 85 to 90 percent." Source: EEProductCenter

Submini Switches Are RoHS Compliant

"CIT RELAY & SWITCH now offers a family of subminiature sealed pushbutton, rocker and toggle switches that are compliant to the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. They withstand the higher soldering temperatures required by RoHS, lead-free material vapor flux, and infrared reflow techniques." Source: EEProductCenter

Lead-Free Tactile Switches Meet RoHS Directive

"NKK Switches, an industry leader in the design and manufacture of electromechanical switches, continues to expand its product offerings with the introduction of the new HP Series of 6mm eco-friendly tactile switches. The HP Series was designed specifically to meet the RoHS directive, which restricts the use of hazardous substances such as lead and cadmium. This environmentally friendly series of through-hole and surface mount tactile devices, features lead-free construction in the switches themselves and the packaging materials also meet all RoHS requirements." Source: ThomasNet

Thin Film Resistor Networks Offer RoHS Compliance

"In response to growing environmental concerns and regulations in the electronic component industry, TT Electronics BI Technologies Electronic Component Division recently developed RoHS-compliant thin film resistor networks. The networks are comprised of a 100% matte tin finish over copper lead frame, and are available immediately. RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) are the regulatory guidelines adopted by the industry stating that by July 1, 2006 new electrical and electronic equipment must not contain certain hazardous substances (such as lead, mercury or cadmium)." Source: ThomasNet

Lead-free RoHS Assembly Seminar in Chicago

"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. The Project 2005 seminar series is designed to assist the electronic industry in the successful transition to lead-free soldering and RoHS compliancy." Source: EMSNOW

Confusion over RoHS

"There is widespread confusion in the electronics supply chain about what electronics companies need to do to show their products comply with the European Union law than bans the use of lead and other hazardous substances in electronic equipment. The law takes effect July 2006. So far, there have been no set rules about what documentation will be needed to show compliance to the Restriction on the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) initiative." Source: Purchasing.com

Standard Aids RoHS Compliance

"With its eye on the RoHS Directive, JEDEC has published a standard for defining the materials content in electronic products. "The standard was motivated by the increasing trend toward international environmental regulations that restrict the use of certain substances," said JEDEC." Source: ElectronicsWeekly

RoHS Compliant 15K RPM Hard Drive

"Hitachi Global Storage Technologies today announced that it has begun shipping Ultrastar 15K147 hard drives with Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and 4 Gb/s Fibre Channel (4GFC) interfaces. SAS is a next-generation serial interface designed to extend the capabilities of today's parallel SCSI drives and provide users with improved performance, system design flexibility and product reliability. Hitachi will be first in the industry to ship 4GFC drives, which are expected to benefit enterprise server and storage customers who require the fastest, most reliable hard drives available today. Hitachi's Ultrastar 15K147 drives meet the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliance directive recently issued by the European Union (EU)." Source: Physorg

Resource Center For International Environmental Laws

"The 25 countries of the European Union, as well as Japan and China, are about to significantly restrict the use of environmentally hazardous materials in electronic components and systems. Under the EU's directive, called Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS), hundreds of thousands of products currently produced and marketed by electronics companies could become obsolete, forcing semiconductor and other electronics manufacturers to re-design some products to remove certain toxic materials. Beginning in July 2006, companies not in compliance would be unable to sell their products into EU member countries. This will have a huge impact on the industry - all chip and equipment manufacturers and distributors doing business internationally must comply with these new directives." Source: BusinessWire

RoHS Compliance in New and Legacy Designs

"EMA Design Automation(TM), a full-service provider of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) solutions, today announced a new service to help companies satisfy the European Union's restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances for electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) directive and other similar legislation. "Conventional thinking implies that you can solve the problem in manufacturing, but by then it is very expensive to fix, and there is a much higher risk of delays, which means lost market opportunities," said Manny Marcano, president of EMA Design Automation." Source: BusinessWire

Moea Sets Up Service Mission To Help Manufacturers Face RoHS Impact

"The Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) inaugurated a service mission Monday to assist local manufacturers of electrical and electronic products to build a green supply chain in an effort to help them smooth the way for exports to Europe, which is to implement stricter environmental protection rules for the products in July, 2006. The new rules include the European Union's Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) that was released on February, 2003, and the EU Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The to-be-banned substances by next year include cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, and two anti-flame materials -- PBBs (polybrominated biphenyls) and PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)." Source: CNA News

RoHS Data at the Design Point

EMA Design Automation and PartMiner, Inc. have joined forces to bring together Cadence Design tools and PartMiner's CAPS electronic component database. This electronic interface provides instant productivity by the addition of relevant component data into the OrCAD Component Information System (CIS) at the engineer's desktop — RoHS data at the design point. This provides information to the right person at the right time to make the best decision possible. Source: SMT

Cut the RoHS Confusion

A web-based information service from Anglia (Wisbech, England) aims to provide an invaluable tool for electronic equipment manufacturers who are working towards ensuring their products meet the requirements of the EC Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoSH) Directive. The company has also implemented a product labelling system to clarify the RoHS status of components purchased from it and issued a wallchart which includes reference information on RoHS and a guide to Anglia's product labelling, including details of the three JEDEC categories. Source: EETuk

Thin-Film Resistor Networks are RoHS Compliant

In response to environmental regulations in the electronic component industry, TT Electronics BI Technologies Electronic Component Division has developed a series of RoHS-compliant thin-film resistor networks that is comprised of a 100% matte tin finish over a copper leadframe. Source: EETAsia

RoHS-Compliant Memory Module Products

Viking InterWorks, a Sanmina-SCI Company and designer and manufacturer of memory modules, today announced it is currently shipping RoHS- (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant products to multiple customers, meeting the European Union's (EU's) Directive (2002/95/EC) that requires the removal of a number of hazardous substances, including lead and other materials, from electronic components, products and assemblies by July 1, 2006. Source: Sanmina-SCI Corporation

Tactile Switches Meet RoHS Directive

The HP series tactile switches employ lead-free construction within the switch, and their packaging materials also meet all RoHS requirements. Contacts are either gold or silver: gold contacts handle 28 Vac/dc maximum and silver contacts withstand 3 VAdc maximum. The circuit is normally open, SPST OFF, momentary ON. Source: EEPN

Thousands of Connectors are 'Lead Free'

Phoenix Contact's Combicon range of PCB connectors contains over 16,000 'lead free' products which are now available, all with easily identifiable product packaging. The Combicon Select software available 24/7 now shows nearly 6000 standard products which are RoHS lead free compliant, and enables engineers to select the right PCB connectors to match their board requirements with downloadable datasheets, and CAD design data. Source: ManufacturingTalk

Designing for RoHS

EMA Design Automation, a provider of electronic design automation (EDA) solutions, and PartMiner Inc., a provider of electronic components and information services for the electronics industry, announced a partnership to bring together Cadence Design System Inc.'s design technology and PartMiner's CAPS electronic component database. "We have a unique method of integrating OrCAD Capture CIS with PartMiner, giving the design engineer immediate access to a content rich environment," said Manny Marcano, president of EMA. "This electronic interface provides instant productivity by the addition of relevant component data into the OrCAD Component Information System (CIS) at the engineer's desktop - RoHS data at the design point. This provides information to the right person at the right time to make the best decision possible." Source: Circuits Assembly

'Greening' the Electronics Supply Chain

Hewlett-Packard has developed a social and environmental responsibility initiative to address not only RoHS and WEEE, but other supply-chain issues such as labour practices among its component suppliers. The company had to augment its supply chain management software to handle the additional tracking requirements. In order to comply, suppliers and manufactures need to know that all parts and sub-assemblies are compliant, and product data management systems have to track down to the part level. Source: BangkokPost

RoHS Compliant Software Protection Keys

SafeNet, Inc., setting the standard for information security, today announced that it is the first company to ship software protection keys that are compliant with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives. Beginning with customers in Japan, SafeNet is currently shipping its Sentinel Software Protection Keys, which have been confirmed "environmentally friendly." Source: BusinessWire

WEEE Retail Compliance Scheme Close to Completion

One of the final pieces of the WEEE jigsaw linking electrical retailers with local authorities is set to be put in place shortly with a proposed scheme to give councils cash funds towards improving their civic amenity sites. Source: Lets Recycle

Are You Prepared for RoHS?

Get the facts on lead free implementation by covering the Third Annual International Conference on Lead Free Electronics. The conference is sponsored by IPC and Soldertec Global. There are lots of issues, and it's a challenge keeping track of them all, let alone implementing industry-wide and company-specific solutions. Join industry experts on June 7-10, 2005 in Barcelona, Spain as they discuss critical lead free issues including: materials declarations, new alloys and materials evaluations, inspection changes, tin whiskers, lead free on advanced packages like BGA and CSP, and reliability. Source: EMSnow

Current Sense Transformers Meet RoHS Requirements

CT Series current sense transformers manufactured by Datatronics Distribution, now meet the requirements of European Directive 20002/95/EC governing the manufacture of electronic components (including bobbin materials) and electronic equipment, which requires the use of lead-free solder as well as the elimination of cadmium and mercury. Source: Electronics Talk

BI Technologies Develops RoHS-compliant Thin Film Resistor Networks

In response to growing environmental concerns and regulations in the electronic component industry, TT Electronics BI Technologies Electronic Component Division recently developed RoHS-compliant thin film resistor networks. The networks are comprised of a 100% matte tin finish over copper lead frame, and are available immediately. Source: EMSnow

'Green' Services Initiatives Prepare Customers for Environmental Regulatory Compliance

Sanmina-SCI Corporation , a leading global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company, today announced its "green" services initiatives are successfully helping original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) comply with global environmental protection initiatives such as the European Union’s (EU’s) RoHS (Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) legislations. The EU Directive requires the removal of a number of hazardous substances, including lead and other materials, from electronic components, products and assemblies by July 1, 2006. Source: mysan.de

RoHS Compliant 2.5-inch SATA Hard Disk Drive

Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc., one of the world's leading suppliers of hard disk drives and computer peripherals and the first hard disk drive manufacturer to introduce a 2.5" Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drive, today announced its 100GB 2.5" SATA hard disk drive. Following more than four years of SATA development on the reduced 2.5" platform, the latest Fujitsu mobile hard disk drive maximizes Native Command Queuing (NCQ) performance, offers low power consumption, higher shock tolerance, quiet operation, and complies with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards. Source: PhysOrg

Newark Launches RoHS Site

Newark InOne, the Chicago subsidiary of the London-based Premier Farnell, has launched RoHS Express, an online resource to help design engineers and component buyers comply with the emerging environmental laws such as the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) legislation set to go into effect on July 1 of next year. Newark launched the site in response to a growing number of questions coming from customers. “Our customers are asking, ‘How does RoHS affect me?’ Some asked it six months ago, some asked it yesterday,” said Steve Hopkins, Newark’s VP of RoHS business development. “The next thing they ask is, ‘What components are exempt?’ The maintenance buyers think they’re exempt, but that’s not necessarily so.” Source: Reed Electronics

Lead-Free RoHS-Compliant IC Packages

ZMD AG has announced that it has completed conversion of its integrated circuit (IC) packaging to meet the lead-free RoHS (Restriction on use of certain Hazardous Substances) industry specifications more than a year ahead of the industry's July 2006 deadline. To indicate compliance to the environmentally "green" mandate, the company's IC packages bear the letter "G" for green, plus the numeral "1" for matte tin packages or the numeral "2" for tin-silver-copper (SnAgCu) packages. Source: NE Asia Online

RoHS Compliant Custom Cables

Northwire Inc. has announced their custom cable design and manufacturing compliance with the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. While the directive specifies that electrical and electronic products marketed within the European Union be free of specified toxic content by July 2006, Northwire has proactively shown their preparedness ahead of the worldwide schedule with their ability to offer custom performance cable designs that meet the requirements set by the directive today. Source: Automation.com

Passport to Lead-Free Processing

Soldertec Global is introducing a solution for SMEs to support their lead-free implementation with the launch of its 'Lead-free Passport'. The 'Lead-free Passport' is a package which brings together the considerable knowledge and technical expertise which has been accumulated by Soldertec Global. This passport will be available from 1st July 2005, exactly one year before the RoHS deadline, and can be previewed on the Soldertec Global Stand (U510) at Nepcon UK 2005. Source: Electronics Talk

Managing the Risk in RoHS Compliance

As the electronics industry shifts to environmentally clean components, product manufacturers face a range of increased risks. On one end of the spectrum, there’s the risk of having products that are out-of-compliance with environmental regulations. At the other end of the spectrum, there’s the very real risk of product failure due to the growth of tin whiskers which increases when lead is removed from components. Source: Electronic News

Cookson Site Aids RoHS Materials Declaration

Cookson Electronics Assembly Materials has launched an RoHS Materials Declaration Service on its Website to provide access to information for many of its lead-free products. The site -- alphametals.com/lead_free/rohs.html - should facilitate the search for RoHS-compliant materials (RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC restricts the use of six hazardous materials, including lead, from electrical and electronic equipment). Source: Circuits Assembly

iNEMI Members Back RoHS Parts Numbering

iNEMI, the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative, announced that most of its OEM and EMS members support the use of unique part numbers for RoHS-compliant components. The consortium took the position that demonstrating and certifying compliance will be complicated further by the industry's design and manufacturing supply chains, as well as the incompatibility between current tin/lead and RoHS-compliant lead-free manufacturing processes. It is important that the industry develop a way to differentiate between these products across all companies involved. Source: SMT

RoHS Compliant Switch and Attenuator

A new broadband SMT packaged GaAs MMIC SPDT switch and an SMT packaged GaAs MMIC voltage variable attenuator are ideal for fibre optic, wideband telecomms, test and measurement, microwave radio and military applications from DC to 20.0GHz. A RoHS compliant version of the switch is available as the HMC547LP3E. Source: Electronics Talk

Standardized Forms Simplify RoHS Compliance

iNEMI and RosettaNet are developing a new IPC standard that will establish electronic data formats and support 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: Frontline

WEEE & RoHS Compliance Services

Ageus Solutions announced today the transition of their WEEE compliance services to encompass all of Europe. Ageus Solutions' Pan-European WEEE services include registration, take-back, and recycling capability across Europe. Source Canada Newswire

Military Connectors Have RoHS Compliant Plating

Aerco now supplies the popular MIL-DTL D38999 Series III range of connectors with zinc cobalt plating on a five-day delivery service with no minimum order quantities. Source: Electronics Talk

Spectrometer Complies with RoHS and WEEE

Thermo Electron Corporation's new ARL QUANT'X energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) system helps manufacturers, sellers, distributors and recyclers of electrical and electronic equipment comply with the strict EU regulations relating to Restrictions of hazardous substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Source: Manufacturing Talk

RoHS Compliance Made Easy

Distributor Farnell InOne says it is releasing the industry’s first RoHS Directive compliant catalogue. Containing over 1,600 RoHS compliant products, from suppliers such as National Semiconductor, EPCOS and AVX, the first issue is available in 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: ferret.com.au

"RoHS Express" Launches Online

Newark InOne, a subsidiary of global Premier Farnell plc and the leading small-quantity distributor of electronic components and test equipment in North America, announces the launch of RoHS Express (newarkinone.com/rohs), an in-depth online resource to help design engineers and component buyers comply with the European Union's Restriction Of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) legislation. "While the RoHS buzz has escalated recently on this side of the pond, there has been a lack of real specifics", comments Paul Tallentire, president, Newark InOne. "We dubbed RoHS Express as the "fast track to compliance", as it gives our customers quick, precise answers to their most important questions." Source: Business Wire

Two Lead-Free RoHS Assembly Seminars

KIC announces that it will co-host two upcoming seminars titled, "Project 2005: Achieving Lead-free RoHS Assembly." The first seminar will be held Tuesday, May 10, 2005, in Orange County, CA, and the second seminar will be held Thursday, May 12, 2005, in Tijuana, Mexico. Both seminars will be hosted together with Kester and Metcal. MB Allen, KIC's General Manager - Europe, will present at both on the topic of lead-free, along with representatives from Kester. Source: EMSNow

RoHS-Compliant Industrial Power Supplies

Lambda has introduced a family of RoHS-compliant power supplies with a five-year warranty. The single-output HWS Series is suitable for powering industrial equipment. The units are available in five power levels — 15W, 30W, 50W, 100W and 150W — with nominal output ranging from 3.3V to 48V. Each model can be adjusted to ±20 percent of its nominal voltage to accommodate non-standard system voltages. Source: ECN

PartMiner Expands RoHS Data

New York-based PartMiner Inc. has enhanced its electronic component database with component material content data to support companies struggling to comply with Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations. PartMiner has also partnered with ThomasB2B.com to offer paid listings on its component search results. To accommodate the needs of a wide range of manufacturers, PartMiner will make the materials content information available in a number of formats. Source: Electronic News

Reports on RoHS Compliance

Engineers gathered at EMC Corporation in Hopkinton, MA, for a meeting of the Northeast Product Safety Society. The meeting was a joint gathering of the IEEE EMC Society, with speakers from each group. A presentation on the costs and risks of compliance to the Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) directive issued by the European Union was given. As of July 1, 2006, electronic products sold into the EU must be free of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (CR+6), and other hazardous materials. Problems associated with replacing the widely used 63%-37% tin-lead (Sn-Pb) solder with a material that contains no lead were discussed. The most promising replacement, tin-silver-copper (Sn-Ag-Cu) requires higher reflow temperatures that Sn-Pb solder. In fact Sn-Ag-Cu solder melts at 34°C higher than SN-Pb solder. It also requires longer reflow times at temperatures 25°C higher for 35 s (vs. 10 s) needed for Sn-Pb. Source: Test & Measurement World