New RoHS Exemptions - No Big Deal

"The latest amendment to the RoHS directive greatly expanded the exemptions list in the annex. But did it really have a big impact on the environment or on compliance activities? The RoHS directive has been amended three times in 2005. Most recently, on 21 October 2005, the EC released the latest amendment. This one removed the 2010 expiration of the server exemption and added five very specific exemptions permitting the use of Pb. It is now acceptable to use Pb in compliant pin connector systems, thermal conduction module c-rings, microprocessor pin to package connections, and Flip Chip packages. In addition, Pb and Cd may be used in optical and filter glass. Obviously, a few sectors will feel the greatest impact. Server manufacturers are now completely off the hook. Certain IC packages may continue to use Pb solders freely. It does look like the crystal glassware industry will be hurting." Source: rohswell.com

Enermet implementing RoHS Directive

"Enermet has been proactive in implementing the Directive in order to ensure compliant products for all customers thus protecting the environment. Although the Directive does not apply to energy meters, Enermet feels environmentally responsible to eventually implement the Directive in its sale and delivery of these products. More detailed information about Enermet products affected by the Directive will be sent to customers in the near future." Source: kauppalehti.fi

Subminiature Pushbutton Switches are RoHS compliant

"CIT RELAY & SWITCH introduces the RoHS compliant RPH Series Pushbutton switch. This newest addition to the CIT switch line offers DPDT, 4PDT, and 6PDT. The switch function is available in both latching and non-latching. Options include PC terminals or Snap-In PC terminals, and single stage mounting chassis, PC mounting bracket or the standard, no chassis. Numerous cap options are also available. The electrical rating on the RPH Series is 100mA at 30VDC with electrical life of typically 30,000 cycles. Contact resistance is less than 50mW max initially at 2-4VDC, 100mA. Dielectric strength is 1250V rms minimum and insulation resistance is greater than 100MW minimum. The operating temperature of the RPH Series is -20°C to 70°C with a storage temperature of -40°C to 85°C." Source: thomasnet.com

MassTech EMS Offers Pb-Free Conversion Program

"Masstech EMS today announced a family of service offerings designed to help customers comply with changing environmental regulations. The firm's Lead Free Conversion Program helps OEMs prepare for and comply with the EU RoHS directive. The comprehensive, step-by-step service includes: * BoM scrubs: detailed software-generated analysis of every component in a specific product to identify leaded components that require replacement. * Recommendations on Pb-free replacement parts: specific suggestions on replacement parts from a client’s Approved Vendor List or viable options from other suppliers. * Component intelligence for reduced risks: information on the viability and risks of available replacement parts, including product lifecycle information and part class analysis. * Parametric data analysis: technical data on material composition of replacement parts." Source: circuitsassembly.com

RoHS Complianct Surface mount chip resistor attenuators

"VISHAY Intertechnology Inc., represented in Australia by Soanar, has released new surface-mount chip resistor attenuators capable of replacing three or more discrete components, in turn reducing board space requirements and simplifying manufacture of smaller, lighter electronic systems. Intended for RF signal attenuation applications in telecom and mobile wireless products, the new Vishay Dale CZA04S and CZA06S reduce component count while improving performance with tolerance matching and temperature tracking superior to that provided by individual components. Both tin/lead (Sn/Pb) and RoHS-compliant, lead (Pb)-free versions of the new devices are available." Source: ferret.com.au

Partially Leaded, Partially Unleaded

"Whether it is lead-free or RoHS, equipment vendors are being proactive with next-generation products because they consider demand for new equipment to be the best business opportunity in 30 years. Equipment vendors in China, such as Folungwin and JT Electronic Equipment, see a big opportunity in exporting their products and, therefore, see environmental compliance as a prerequisite." Source: reed-electronics.com

RoHS: Supply chain not yet ready

"The entire supply chain has to move to environmental compliance synchronously - or at least nearly at the same time. Otherwise, manufacturing processes and the logistics of moving parts don’t mesh and end products don’t make it out the door either in full compliance or working order. That has forced some OEMs and board manufacturers to ask component suppliers to slow down the progression to RoHS compliance, at least for the time being. The delay puts a drag on the entire process, in some cases delaying compliance for suppliers and in other cases forcing them to develop and manage dual product lines of compliant and non-compliant parts." Source: electronicsweekly.com

RoHS impacts EMS industry

"At first glance, it would seem that the Restriction on the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) law mainly affects OEMs whose brand name is listed on the equipment. However, the law is having a huge impact on electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers who build systems for OEMs. EMS providers must work with suppliers to make sure their parts are RoHS compliant. Key for all suppliers are materials declarations. Equipment manufacturers will have to provide documentation that show none of the listed hazardous substances are in any parts or materials used in equipment. Most OEMs and EMS companies are building databases of suppliers, parts and materials content." Source: purchasing.com

MSI products nears 100% RoHS compliant

"Micro-Star International (MSI) will be giving a greater focus on producing environmentally safe products, even if it means higher cost of production. Announcing this strategy decision during a Media Tour, Vincent Lai, Director - Marketing Department, MSI said, "MSI was the first company in the world to come up with a RoHS compliant VGA Graphic Cards. This shows our concerns for environmental safety." Apart from the graphic cards, all the MSI motherboards manufactured for OEM are already RoHS and WEEE compliant. "By April 2006, we expect to get RoHS compliance for all our motherboards that will include the ones for channels," he added." Source: dqchannels.com

Polyclad introduces GETEK HR RoHS compatible materials

"Polyclad Laminates, Inc., a business of Cookson Electronics, has introduced GETEK HR high speed, low loss laminates and prepregs. The CAF resistant, lead-free assembly compatible materials deliver enhanced thermal performance and high reliability required by PWB assemblers and OEMs, while enabling PWB fabricators to experience substantially improved FR-4 processability. GETEK HR combines the well documented and industry trusted electrical performance of GETEK with the patented technology utilized in Polyclad 370HR high performance materials, as well as other best-in-class Polyclad lead-free assembly compatible FR-4 products. The result is a product with low dielectric constant, low loss, and very low Z-axis expansion." Source: emsnow.com

Panasonic Debuts RoHS Compliant Mini-DV Camcorder

"Panasonic Broadcast has introduced the AG-DVX100B 24p/30p/60i Mini-DV Camcorder with more than two dozen enhancements. The successor to the highly-popular AG-DVX100A and AG-DVX100, which have made serious filmmaking affordable for a new level of content producers, the AG-DVX100B is among the first professional camcorders to be RoHS-compliant." Source: digitalvideoediting.com

UK RoHS Regulations published

"The UK Regulations that will implement the EU Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (the "RoHS" Directive) have now been published (SI2005 No. 2748). The Regulations will come into force on 1 July 2006. Subject to certain exemptions, the RoHS Regulations will prohibit the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and types of brominated flame retardant in new electrical and electronic equipment as of 1 July 2006. Draft non-statutory guidance on the UK RoHS Regulations has been published by the DTI and is available from its website." The RoHS Regulations are available at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20052748.htm Draft DTI guidance on the RoHS Regulations is available at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/weee/RoHS_Regs_Draft_Guidance_3_August2005.pdf Source: mondaq.com

Subminiature DIP Switches meet RoHS requirements

"NKK Switches, which continues to provide design engineers with innovative and dependable switch products, today announced the release of a new series of DIP switches. The RoHS compliant JS series of subminiature DIP switches rounds out NKK's offering in this category of switches. The devices incorporate several distinctive characteristics including both through-hole and surface mount configurations as well as the choice of four or eight positions." Source: thomasnet.com

Philips Semiconductors now fully RoHS compliant

"Royal Philips Electronics has completed fabrication crossover for RoHS compliant/leadfree products, which comes into force July 1, 2006. "We completed our manufacturing conversion a few months ago and have since been working to clear the supply chain of lead products so we can assure supply of only RoHS/leadfree compliant products from our distribution centers" said Frans Scheper, senior vice president Philips Semiconductors. "We will continue to use the same part numbers, to enable a smooth transition for our customers. We have provided compatible devices, far ahead of time, for our customers to test and prepare for the legislation coming into effect. Philips is committed to delivering quality products that meet customer requirements and contribute to a cleaner, greener environment."" Source: fabtech.org

All fans are RoHS compliant

"All AC and DC fans from Adda, Etri, Delta and Jamicon supplied in the UK by Aerco are now RoHS compliant. Aerco offers the widest range of AC and DC fans from a single source in the UK providing DC fans in frame sizes from 20 x 20 x 6mm square up to 150mm diameter and AC fans from 60 x 60 x 30mm up to 254mm diameter. Aerco Fan Product Manager, Robin Cook, said: 'We are able to provide an extremely wide range of both AC and DC fans that are compliant with EU Directive 2002/95/EC'." Source: electronicstalk.com

AVX tantalum capacitors available for RoHS-exempt apps

"Responding to the requirements of customers who are exempt from the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, AVX Corp. recently developed a tin-lead finish version of its conformally-coated tantalum radial leaded capacitor, which was initially introduced as the first lead-free component of its kind in January 2005. The new TEP series capacitors offer a capacitance range of 0.1µF to 330µF with a capacitance tolerance of &plsumn;10 percent or ±20 percent. They also are available in a wide selection of case sizes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P and R) and voltage ratings (6.3-, 10-, 16-, 20-, 25-, 35- and 50V) to meet virtually any application requirement." Source: eetasia.com

Indium Corporation to feature WEEE/RoHS compliant materials at Productronica

"Indium Corporation will be exhibiting its Suite of Pb-Free Electronics Assembly Materials for WEEE and RoHS compliance at the Productronica show in Munich, Germany on November 15-18, 2006. Indium will be located in booth A3-550. Indium's exhibit will offer a full range of Pb-Free assembly materials, including the first Reworkable Pb-Free No-Flow Underfill (NF-260) and its newest No-Clean Solder Paste (Indium5.1) with its industry leading response-to-pause printing. In addition, Indium will also feature other Pb-Free materials, such as Water-Wash Solder Pastes (Indium3.1), Solder Preforms in Tape & Reel Packaging, Wave Solder Flux for Pb-Free mixed-technology, and Rework & Repair materials." Source: emsnow.com

Fairchild 95% RoHS Compliant

"Ninety-five percent of Fairchild Semiconductor's (NYSE: FCS) products are RoHS compliant today, and all of the company's products will be fully compliant well ahead of the July, 2006 deadline. Fairchild's early compliance is a way to provide our customers more time to meet the RoHS directive. As a leader in RoHS conversion since 2001, Fairchild is one of the few suppliers in the industry with nearly full compliance - months ahead of the European Directive. This directive states that any electronic equipment supplier within the European Union must fully comply with RoHS requirements, including the removal of Pb (lead), by July 1, 2006. Fairchild maintains an extensive web site on RoHS and Pb-free information at www.fairchildsemi.com/pbfree. This web site provides an easy-to-use tool where customers can enter a part number and determine the package conversion date, product ID and if the device is available to purchase or sample. This new suite of web-based tools and information assists customers in the selection and availability of RoHS compliant products." Source: businesswire.com

Coretec ready for RoHS

"Coretec Inc. said it is now compliant with the European Union's (EU) directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) for mainstream printed circuit board product manufactured in its Toronto operation. The company's Denver and Cleveland operations, with business more weighted to government military and aerospace end-markets, are scheduled to be in compliance by early 2006." Source: emsnow.com

X-ray instruments help to comply with RoHS

"X-ray instruments automate analysis procedures, are fully enclosed, and can be operated with basic skill levels in the factory with minimal safety requirements. The detection limit of lead, mercury and bromine is below 10 ppm, for cadmium and chromium below 20 ppm. As the instruments use a range of collimators, very small specimens, or areas on specimens, can be measured and analysed, using a video camera for precise positioning. This allows, for example, the analysis of lead and cadmium in narrow PCB tracks and the smallest soldering pads." Source: manufacturingtalk.com

Cypress Ships 200 Millionth RoHS-Compliant Device

"Cypress Semiconductor Corp. has shipped more than 200 million lead-free components that comply with the European Union's directive on the Restriction on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS). Cypress continues to see consistent increased demand for RoHS-compliant, high-quality, nickel-palladium-gold (NiPdAu) packaging. NiPdAu is used instead of a combination of tin and lead (SnPb) that has been widely used in semiconductor packaging. NiPdAu is accepted by the semiconductor market, maintains excellent performance and reliability, and is compatible with existing SnPb assembly processes." Source: businesswire.com

Coretec Inc. Announces RoHS Compliance Well Ahead of EU Deadline

"Coretec Inc. is pleased to announce it is now compliant with the European Union's (EU) directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) for mainstream printed circuit board (PCB) product manufactured in its Toronto operation. "Over the past 12 months we have invested significant resources in terms of materials research, information system upgrades and process verifications in support of this key initiative affecting the complete electronic product supply chain." "It is an investment we believe few printed circuit operations will be able to duplicate in advance of the July 1, 2006 deadline, and perhaps well beyond that date." "Further, we have invested heavily in our Field Application Engineering organization over time and this, combined with the accelerating impact of RoHS, has positioned Coretec amongst the leaders in the PCB segment to provide customers the value-add solutions for their compliance requirements."" Source: ccnmatthews.com

DIP switches are RoHS-compliant

"NKK Switches has launched a new series of RoHS-compliant subminiature DIP switches. The new JS series devices are available in four or eight positions. Rounding out the company's DIP switch line, the new end-to-end stackable RoHS-compliant JS series devices incorporate several distinctive characteristics including both through-hole and surface-mount configurations. The JS series is rated at 25mA at 24Vdc. They also feature a sliding twin contact mechanism with self-cleaning action to provide smooth actuation, high contact reliability and stable contact resistance. The contacts are gold plated and prevent oxidation and sulfide effect. The use of self extinguishing UL94V-0 certified material in the cover and base provides high arc resistance as well as high insulation resistance, said the company." Source: eetasia.com

Kester to host lead-free RoHS Assembly Seminar in Tampa Bay

"Kester has announced that it host a lead-free seminar titled, "Project 2005: Achieving Lead-free RoHS Assembly" on Thursday, November 10, 2005 in Tampa Bay, FL. 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 seminar will present the various complexities of assemblies and what companies need to do to comply with the European WEEE and RoHS Directives. The seminar offers information and case studies to make these products reliable with lead-free while being RoHS compliant." Source: emsnow.com

Enforcing RoHS on firms outside the EU

"Both the WEEE and the RoHS Directives place obligations under the concept of “producer responsibility”. The “producer” is legally responsible for ensuring that all producer obligations so it is essential for manufacturers to determine early on whether or not they are the “producer” in any Member State. One would hope that the Directive itself would be clear on this matter and leave no room for ambiguity but unfortunately this does not appear to be the case." Source: electronicsweekly.com

New exemptions from the RoHS directive suggested

"The European Commission (EC) has submitted a new stakeholder consultation suggesting several exemptions from the Directive on the Restriction of the use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS). Article 4 (1) of the Directive provides that materials and components can be exempted from the substance restrictions if their elimination or substitution is technically or scientifically impracticable, or where the negative environmental, health or consumer safety impacts caused by substitution outweigh the benefits. The EC has received additional requests from industry for applications to be exempted from the RoHS Directive’s requirements." Source: bellona.no

EU Exempts Deca-BDE from RoHS

"The EU has exempted the flame retardant known as Deca-BDE from the Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances, following an intensive review. The EU published its decision -- the final step in the RoHS regulatory procedure for adopting exemptions -- on Oct. 15. This means Deca-BDE can continued to be used. The Commission’s decision was based on a 10-year EU risk assessment which evaluated 588 studies and concluded that the use of Deca-BDE does not pose health or environmental risks." Source: circuitsassembly.com

Complete RoHS and WEEE compliance testing systems

"Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, one of the leading developers of analytical instrumentation in the USA, announces the availability of a complete range of analytical instruments to assist manufacturers in attaining Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive regulatory compliance. In addition, Shimadzu provides all the equipment that companies need to assess ongoing compliance with established end-of-life vehicle (ELV) regulations. With the WEEE already in place, and RoHS scheduled to take effect in July 2006, there is ongoing concern regarding the readiness of American companies to operate in full compliance." Source: laboratorytalk.com

Europe’s RoHS Progress Mixed

"Europe is making progress with its Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations, but not all the countries in the European Union will be in compliance by the deadline." Source: reed-electronics.com

RoHS Compliant RFID unit connects up to four antennas

"Omron is releasing an RFID reader/writer which is compatible with UHF frequency bands. The unit conforms to European RoHS Directive, but is intended for use in the US retail industry - the first of its kind in the world. The reader/writer is a monostatic type that uses an integral transmission and reception antenna element and can be connected with up to four antennas. Omron plans to ship 2000 reader/writer units to the North American market during fiscal 2005 with a sales goal of 500 million yen. Following this, Omron also plans to market an RoHS-compatible UHF-band RFID reader/writer for the European market." Source: electronicstalk.com

Call In the RoHS Lawyers

"Who will ultimately be liable for the products that get pulled or barred from the market once the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) rules take effect next July isn’t entirely clear at the moment." Source: reed-electronics.com

Helping manufacturers comply with WEEE/RoHS

"Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services (BVCPS) is offering an innovative system to help its customers ensure compliance with the stringent new 2002/96/EC waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and 2002/95/EC restrictions of hazardous substances (RoHS) directives. BVCPS has drawn on its wealth of experience in electrical testing and quality standards to provide support and advice to manufacturers on how they can conform to these new regulations. The WEEE RoHS legislation is set to be fully implemented in the UK in early 2006; therefore manufacturers need to be preparing for the changes in legislation immediately in order to be ready for this date." Source: laboratorytalk.com

Omnify Software To Present at ASPMFG RoHS/WEEE Seminars In Palo Alto and Irvine

"Omnify Software, a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software for mid-market electronic, medical, mechanical, and defense OEMs, will be a featured speaker in RoHS and WEEE seminars in Palo Alto and Irvine California. The seminars, produced by the Alliance of Service Providers & Manufacturers (ASPMFG) and hosted by Innov-X Systems, will educate organizations on the impact of the European Union's RoHS and WEEE Directives and explain what these organizations must do in order to comply." Source: businesswire.com

Color Polyimide Labels for RoHS/WEEE Compliant and Standard Processes

"Polyonics Inc. introduces 1 & 2 mil color polyimide labels. These color polyimide labels are coated with a permanent pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive and a high opacity, medium gloss topcoat available in 6 tinted colors - pink, yellow, orange, blue, green and violet. They are thermal transfer printable and scan with both visible and IR scanners. Barcode labels made from these colored polyimide materials demonstrate excellent performance in lead-free wave solder environments, which range from 260° to 290°C. Polyonics developed this series of colored polyimide labels, which will survive both standard and lead-free processes on top or bottom side of the board, for manufacturers looking to color code production/process lines. For instance, most manufacturing companies will run parallel production lines as they transition to lead-free processes resulting in two product streams - RoHS/WEEE compliant and non-compliant. Some companies choose to use the plain white polyimide labels for standard "non-compliant" subassemblies, and a color-coded label (e.g., pink, yellow, orange, blue, green or violet) for the compliant products. Using these color-coded labels will allow manufactures to tell at a glance those that are compliant subassemblies from those that are non-compliant." Source: emsnow.com

Newark InOne Offers Free RoHS Bill of Materials Update Service

"Newark InOne, a subsidiary of global distributor Premier Farnell plc, and North America's leading small-quantity distributor of electronic components, test equipment, and solutions to enable compliance with the European Union's Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, announced its launch of a free Bill of Materials (BOM) Update Service to help components buyers comply with this legislation." Source: prnewswire.com

Design Chain Associates, LLC Provides 'China RoHS' Information

"Design Chain Associates, LLC, the leading electronics industry design chain consulting firm, is pleased to announce that the company is now supporting clients, the electronics industry, and technical inquiries on the proposed Chinese electronic-product related material restriction and labeling law called 'Administration on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products.' “DCA notified the industry earlier this month that China had, on September 28th, finally issued their RoHS-equivalent legislation” said Michael Kirschner, president of Design Chain Associates, LLC. “We have been tracking this for quite some time now and are pleased that we can provide access to and insight on this important legislation”." Source: emediawire.com

RoHS Explained

"Recently several PC hardware pieces were launched as “RoHS-compliant” and you should see more and more RoHS-compliant products reaching the market on the next months. In this tutorial we will explain what RoHS is and what is its impact to the computer industry. RoHS stands for Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances. It is an European legislation that bans six hazardous substances from manufacturing processes: cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and lead (Pb)." Source: hardwaresecrets.com

Newark InOne Offers Free RoHS Bill of Materials Update Service

"Newark InOne, a subsidiary of global distributor Premier Farnell plc, and North America's leading small-quantity distributor of electronic components, test equipment, and solutions to enable compliance with the European Union's Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, announced its launch of a free Bill of Materials (BOM) Update Service to help components buyers comply with this legislation. A simple process, bills of materials for any number of lines can be submitted using the BOM Upload feature on the home page at http://www.newarkinone.com/bom or by contacting 1.800.4.NEWARK. An Excel spreadsheet or the sample template may be used. It is critical that either the manufacturer or Newark InOne part number be included for each part. Upon receipt, a member of the Newark InOne 'Green Team' reviews and qualifies the BOM for service, and determines an update schedule with the customer. Updates are important, as new RoHS compliant parts are continually being added in the marketplace as the legislation's July 1, 2006 deadline approaches." Source: prnewswire.com

Nexlogic Technologies, Inc. Certified For Pb-Free Assembly By Kester University

"Nexlogic Technologies, Inc., a premier PCB service provider and ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturer announced it has received Kester University certification for completing an intensive Pb-free/RoHS compliance course. By satisfactorily completing the Kester University course and meeting Pb-free assembly requirements, Nexlogic Technologies’ processes and personnel are certified to perform Pb-free assembly." Source: emediawire.com

Arrow Electronics Reports Some Companies Prepared, Many Not, for New Environmental Regulations

"Leonie Tipton, vice president, Arrow Global Supply Chain Programs, will present the findings during a NetSeminar hosted by Electronics Supply & Manufacturing (ESM) magazine on Tuesday, October 11, at noon ET. During her presentation, "RoHS Compliance Information, End Producer Readiness, Supplier Response and Action Recommendations," Tipton will provide insight on the readiness of end equipment producers and component manufacturers to meet the compliance information requirements of RoHS, challenges in collecting environmental compliance information, and recommendations on building a RoHS compliance information model. She also will share results from two surveys conducted by Arrow and Electronics Supply & Manufacturing magazine on both end equipment producers' and component manufacturers' plans for complying with the RoHS directive and how the industry is responding to information sharing standards such as the proposed IPC-1751/2 standard." Source: prnewswire.com

Tyco rolls RoHS-compliant cables

"Tyco Electronics continues to develop interconnects that meet the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and other environmental initiatives. The company's latest RoHS-compliant offering is its MADISON CABLE brand of Pb-free and heavy-metal-free cables. These cables are designed to meet several national and international environmental initiatives including Proposition 65 in the state of California, the EU RoHS and WEEE directives, and other global laws including China's proposed hazardous substance legislation, and the Japan Green Program as well as other directives which address lead, heavy metals and other hazardous substances." Source: eetasia.com

Illuminated Pushbuttons meet RoHS requirements.

"P01 Series Constructed with Heat Resistant Materials Allow for Lead-Free Soldering. NKK Switches, a manufacturer at the forefront of developing environmentally compatible components, has expanded its extensive illuminated product offering with the addition of the LP01 series of short body pushbuttons. The LP01 series of illuminated pushbuttons and its packaging materials meet the RoHS Directive by restricting the use of hazardous materials. These devices boast a short body of .551" (14mm) behind panel depth. The pushbuttons come fully assembled with a translucent white cap as well as a red, green or amber LED, which is an integral part of the switch." Source: thomasnet.com

RoHS-compliant blower fits smaller spaces

"The BFB0412 is a new, 12V DC centrifugal blower available in a 42 x 45 x 19mm frame size that is ideal for use in small enclosures. Centrifugal blowers in this format have, until now, only been available in a 50mm diameter frame size and, as with all Delta DC fans, the BFB0412 is RoHS compliant. Available in the UK from Aerco, the BFB0412 is part of the Delta range of centrifugal blowers specifically designed for cooling hotspots in small electronic housings." Source: electronicstalk.com

Panasonic to Complete Non-Use of Specific Chemical Substances in Its Components and Materials by End of October 2005

"Panasonic, the leading brand for which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is well known, announced that it has completed the content analysis of specific chemical substances in the components and materials used in all its products, totaling approximately 1.32 million different items. The company has accomplished the non-use of the specific chemical substances in 96 percent of all the items at the end of March 2005. Panasonic will eliminate the use of these substances by the end of October 2005, excluding applications that are to be exempted from the RoHS directive." Source: noticias.info

CompactPCI SBCs are RoHS-compliant

"Acal Microsystems now has two RoHS-compliant CompactPCI Intel Pentium M system host single board computers available. The Adlink Technology boards, cPCI-6841 single slot (4TE/HP) and cPCI-6842 dual slot (8TE/HP) are both 6U form factor. Both support Intel Pentium M/Celeron M series processors from 600MHz to 1.8GHz. Other features common to both boards include high performance integrated graphics courtesy of the Intel 855GME chipset with ICH4, plus dual gigabit Ethernet ports using the Intel 82541 which support the front panel I/O." Source: electronicstalk.com

Beyond RoHS and WEEE: Global Environmental Initiatives and the Implications for Your Company

"October 24, San Jose, CA: Design Chain Associates, LLC President Michael Kirschner speaks at the Electronics Supply & Manufacturing Global Supply Chain Summit on “Beyond RoHS and WEEE: Global Environmental Initiatives and the Implications for Your Company”. The talk will include a discussion of what Design For Environment is, how governments around the world are legislating requirements for it, and what the Electronics Industry needs to do in order to ensure that the requirements are fair, effective, achievable, and make business sense. See www.my-esm.com/summit for more information." Source: emediawire.com

knitter-switch's surface mount tact switches are RoHS compliant

"knitter-switch announced a new series of micro-miniature tact switches designed for a variety of applications in industrial automation where an ultra-small, rugged and waterproof switch is required. Designed to be Pb-free solderable, the switches feature an operating temperature range from -55°C to 125°C. They are available in a J-Wing (TMSE 10 J) and side-push version (TMSE 10 J-RA)." Source: eetasia.com

NPL announces web cast 'RoHS Legislation and Supply Chain Issues'

"National Physical Laboratory has announced a web cast on 12th December 2005 at 15.30 pm. This presentation will give examples of potential pitfalls during the transition to lead-free to help in preparing a plan that considers pit falls concerning supply chain issues. The web cast will also deal with difficult questions which have been hard to answer as industry waits for the legislative goalposts to settle, such as: Are you a producer of EEE under the WEEE/RoHS directive, or is this actually your customer? Is this clear and understood in your supply chain? What responsibilities will you accept as a supplier, or pass on as a customer? Who owns the BOM for your product? Who ensures it will be compliant? What actually needs to be in place in July 2006? What is the definition of lead-free?" Source: emsnow.com

Catalogers offer RoHS help

"It’s no secret that the Restriction on the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) deadline is bearing down on the electronics industry. Many companies are working feverishly to make sure the equipment they design and build does not contain lead or the five other hazardous substances banned by the European Union initiative. Some OEMs and electronics manufacturing services providers are struggling with RoHS and are looking for help from catalog distributors. Catalogers often provide purchasers and design engineers easy access to the latest data on which parts are compliant and which ones aren’t." Source: purchasing.com

NKK's pushbutton switches meet RoHS requirements

"Constructed with heat-resistant material, the new LP01 series of pushbutton switches from NKK Switches can withstand lead-free soldering. The short body LP01 series of illuminated pushbuttons and its packaging materials meet the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. These illuminated switches are available in both single-pole and double-pole momentary versions. Rated for 3A at 125Vac or 3A at 250Vac or 30A at 30Vdc, these pushbutton switches have UL94V-0 flammability ratings. The series has been submitted for UL Recognition and CSA Certification." Source: eetasia.com

Ignorance of RoHS is not bliss for SMEs

"Huge numbers of small businesses are still ignorant of the RoHS and WEEE Directives, claims the UK ’ s National Physical Laboratory (NPL). “ We approached the Federation of Small Businesses, ” Alan Brewin, who heads RoHS and WEEE projects at NPL, told Electronics Weekly (UK ). “ They have got a database of companies, and out of them 20,000 UK companies could be impacted.” Those companies which produce non-compliant products risk having no market by the middle of next year, when legislation is due to take effect." Source: ferret.com.au

AEEMA takes lead on RoHS

"AEEMA has formed a sub-committee to assist members that need information or guidance into RoHS and WEEE. Keith Anderson, AEEMA board member and president of Adilam is chairing this new committee. Anderson says committee members are “well versed in many aspects of RoHS & WEEE, having a broad range of experience within their respective companies and responsibilities”." Source: ferret.com.au

Getting ready for WEEE and RoHS

"Although it ’ s getting late, there is still time to meet the RoHS deadline of 1 July 2006. Nonetheless, it’s a huge challenge that starts with finding out what compliance actually means. That’s still taxing the legislators charged with transposing the legislation—with the British, French and Germans arguing over interpretation—so what chance has a production engineer got?" Source: ferret.com.au

The RoHS interview

"I know RoHS is coming, but do I really need to worry about it yet? RoHS compliance is currently only applicable to products having an end market in Europe and that fall within a category that requires compliance. For example, the automotive and medical sectors are currently exempt. If your market excludes Europe then currently you do not need to worry about it. However, it is quite likely that other markets may head down a similar path with regards to RoHS requirements and you may be required to comply in the future. China and Japan are advanced in their planning for implementation of similar programs." Source: ferret.com.au

Omnify Software Presenting at ASPMFG RoHS/WEEE Seminar Series

"Six City Series Will Feature a Panel of Industry Executives Educating Electronics Manufacturers on Achieving Compliance with the New Regulations -- Omnify Software, a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software for mid-market electronic, medical, mechanical, and defense OEMs, today announced it will be a featured speaker in a multi-city seminar series produced by the Alliance of Service Providers & Manufacturers (ASPMFG) and hosted by Innov-X Systems, to educate organizations on the impact of the European Union's RoHS and WEEE Directives. Omnify executives will discuss how companies can ensure their products comply with regulations well-ahead of the impending deadline." Source: businesswire.com

Environmental Compliance for Design & Supply Chain Service

"Synapsis Technology, Inc., a provider of environmental compliance and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, today announced that Tim Irvine, its vice president of sales and marketing, has been selected to speak at Next Generation Telecom China taking place October 11-13, 2005 in Beijing. The conference focuses on collaborative commerce for the high-tech and telecommunications industries. Mr. Irvine will be giving a presentation on "Environmental Compliance for Design & Supply Chain Services" at 10:30 a.m. on October 12. With compliance regulations such as RoHS and China RoHS driving the need for changes in product design and more complex business processes, Mr. Irvine will discuss the risks and challenges associated with achieving compliance as well as recommend strategies to consider when implementing compliance programs." Source: Synapsis Technology, Inc via yahoo.com

Solomon Systech Fully Compliant with RoHS

"Solomon Systech, a display IC company, has achieved full compliance for all its products with the European Union RoHS Directive. All products of the Group have been tested by accredited laboratories in compliance with the EU Directive, 2002/95/EC on RoHS. They include COG IC, TAB, COF w/ SMD, COF w/o SMD, QFP, QFN, BGA, SOT package ICs and Solder Bump Die." Source: ecnasiamag.com

RoHS: Getting the PBBs and PBDEs Out of PCs

"Toshiba's recent announcement that it had launched the "world's first RoHS compliant PC" made headlines in much of the environmental media. In reality, it's both big news . . . and not. The big news is that a major shift is taking place in the electronics industry in response to the European Union's Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, more formally known as "Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment." That mouthful of a regulation requires literally hundreds of thousands of products currently produced and marketed by semiconductor and other electronics manufacturers to restrict the use of six substances -- cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) -- in their products. Companies not in compliance by July 1, 2006 will not be able to sell into EU countries. (WorldChanging noted the coming of RoHS at the beginning of the year.)" Source: worldchanginjg.com

RoHS Conversion May Produce Shortages

"As component suppliers shift their production to RoHS-complaint parts in anticipation of the July 1, 2006 deadline, the electronics industry may experience parts shortages. While it seems logical there would be supply interruptions of newly compliant parts as OEMs rush to stock up, there is also concern there will be shortfalls in non-compliant parts needed by industries such as defense, medial and telecommunications that are at least partly exempted from RoHS compliance." Source: designnews.com

Touch-screen controller chips meet RoHS Directive

"eGalax has introduced its first USB touch-screen controller chips that meet the latest RoHS Directive. These chips are designed to take account of the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. 'Having these pioneered designs into touch-screen controller technology puts eGalax ahead of the competition', said Alex Chang, Engineer Manager of eGalax." Source: electronicstalk.com

Calumet Electronics PCBs verified RoHS compliant

"Calumet Electronics Corp. (CEC) has verified RoHS compliance of its lead-free printed circuit boards through independent lab testing. Samples of double-sided and multilayered printed circuit boards made with FR4 material and surface plated with electroless nickel / immersion gold and immersion silver were submitted for independent verification of internal results. The tests were carried out by Intertek Testing Services of Twinsburg, OH for verification of compliance to the European Union RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC." Source: emsnow.com