...Following the implementation of the RoHS (restriction of the use of certain hazardous substance in electrical and electronic equipment) directive effective from July 1 this year, the European Union will introduce another environment-protection directive - the EUP (Eco-Design Requirements for Energy Using Products) beginning from August 2007.... more...

...DISPOSING of computers, monitors, printers and mobile phones is a large and growing environmental problem. .. . According to the European Union, e-waste is now the fastest-growing category. Last month new rules came into force in both Europe and California to oblige the industry to take responsibility for it. In Europe the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive limits the use of many toxic materials in new electronic products sold in the European Union. In California mobile-phone retailers must now take back and recycle old phones.... more...

...Isola Group SARL, a designer, developer and manufacturer of high performance base materials for the printed circuit board industry, reported dramatic growth for its lead free capable laminates.... more...

...Kester announces that Peter Biocca will present at IPCWorks 2006, scheduled to take place September 10 to 14, 2006, at the American Airlines Training and Conference Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Peter, Kester's Senior Market Development Engineer, will present on the topic of Lead-free Defects - How to Prevent Them and Real Case Studies.... more...

...Aviation, Aerospace, and Military users of commercial off the shelf components are faced with a potentially dangerous parts shortage. It is possible that electronics thought to contain 3% tin lead specified for high reliability applications will be mislabeled and replaced with 0% lead components. As a result, tin-whiskers could occur resulting in dangerous consequences.... more...

...Almost two months after the European Union's ban on the use of six environmentally unfriendly materials went into effect, designers have clear evidence that failure to meet the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive means lost sales... more...

... The purpose of this article is to provide clarification to corporate environmental managers of multinational companies on current and emerging product-related regulatory developments in China, Japan and Korea. "WEEE" and "RoHS" are no longer an isolated "European phenomenon" but are becoming part of a much larger and irreversible trend, requiring manufacturers and users of impacted products around the world to become more proactive and strategically focused.... more...

...With the passing of the deadline last month for RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance with European Union (EU) laws governing the recycling of electronic equipment, manufacturers now face the very real possibility of lost or at the very least, disrupted revenue when countries begin enforcement of RoHS and WEEE recycling laws, according to M-Cubed LLC, a worldwide provider of turnkey RoHS/WEEE, Excess & Obsolete and E-Waste Solutions for Fortune 500 companies.... more...

...A current widespread problem faced by most multinational corporations today is being embraced by one company as an opportunity to expand its environmental commitment to the promotion of socially responsible recycling of electronic materials.... more...

...When the ex cathedra RoHS Directive came down, it was missing a little crucial piece of information -- how manufacturers, distributors, and purchasers of parts could communicate to each other the RoHS status of every part.... more...

...Manufacturers now face the very real possibility of lost or at the very least, disrupted revenue, with the implementation of RoHS and WEEE directives, according to M-Cubed LLC, a provider of turnkey RoHS/WEEE, excess and obsolete and e-waste solutions.... more...

...Gen3 Systems' managing director Graham Naisbitt, a member of both the IEC and IPC test standards committees, says lead-free implementation has exacerbated the need for manufacturers to draw a distinction between 'solderability' and 'soldering ability' tests, to avoid undermining the integrity of electronic assemblies used in critical applications... more...

...Solder Paste Group introduces an improved no-clean solder paste product family specifically formulated for SAC 305.... more...

...Huntsman Advanced Materials introduced two halogen-free laminating resins to comply with current regulatory requirements for PCB manufacturing.... more...

...REMOVING lead from electronics may be a good idea, but the transition to lead-free solder does dramatically alter the electronics assembly procedure, particularly for high-reliability products. Tin/lead solder joints have been comprehensively characterised over many decades, and manufacturers of products for safety-critical or life-dependent applications are able to reassure their reliability.... more...

...Almost two months after the European Union's ban on the use of six environmentally unfriendly materials went into effect, designers have clear evidence that failure to meet the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive means lost sales.... more...

...Farnell InOne, is the only distributor in the industry to produce a comprehensive, dedicated list of RoHS exempt products. Working in conjunction with ERA Technology, Farnell InOne now offers a continuously updated record of exemptions, including those formally approved, those rejected, any in limbo and ones requested but still pending.... more...

...Proving that your electronic products are compliant with the European Union’s (EU) RoHS restrictions may be more than simply sending compliant products into European distribution. Many manufacturers plan to demonstrate compliance by showing they have implemented a system that vets suppliers and maintains material content records. With that due diligence in place, manufacturers believe they can confidently ship their products to Europe.... more...

...Distributor Farnell InOne has published a list of RoHS exempt products which it claims is as comprehensive as any currently available on the Internet.... more...

...Integrated Service Technology (IST), a test and analysis lab in Taiwan, estimates four or five of Taiwan's electronics companies have been disqualified for business within the European Union (EU) for failure to meet RoHS Directive guidelines.... more...

...The European Union (EU) put the directive into effect beginning July 1 this year. The test company pointed out these disputed companies were each fined over NT$10 million (US$312,500 at US$1:NT$32) and one of them even faced NT$100 million (US$3.1 million) worth of merchandise returned for poor performance in its lead-free products.... more...

...According to a study commissioned by Greenpeace International in Amsterdam, consumers are willing to pay extra for environmentally friendly PCs. Consumers also believe that computer manufacturers - not users, retail shops or governments - should be held responsible for dealing with hazardous waste from PCs.... more...

...The European Union's Technical Adaptation Committee has ruled to exempt lead and cadmium in a half-dozen applications from the RoHS Directive. Among the expemtions granted was for lead in finishes of fine-pitch components (other than connectors) with a pitch of 0.65 mm or less with NiFe copper lead frames. This could mean a new lease on life for millions of components.... more...

...The reflow soldering equipment market in North America is experiencing a resurgence in sales due to the use of lead-free solder paste and the move to lead-free compatible equipment, despite lower wages and price pressures from overseas competitors.... more...

...Electronics industry organisation REPIC has expressed concern over the "compressed" timetable for forthcoming new recycling regulations, due to hit in July next year. The government is currently consulting over the new regulations, which will make electronics producer and retailers pay for the collection and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).... more...

...Following four years of successfully delivering comprehensive RoHS WEEE impact assessments, Dionics has developed a complementary new service called Scope Validator.... more...

...The SMART Group is organising three Autumn UK events.... more...

...There is more to RoHS than compliance and exemption, writes Terry McManus of Tekdata Interconnections. Anyone in the electronics industry should be aware of the passing of the July 2006 deadline for the implementation of the European RoHS directive on the use of hazardous substances, and the ancillary WEEE regulations covering disposal of waste.... more...

...The European Union's Technical Adaption Committee (TAC) voted to approve six new RoHS exemptions. Three main requirements must apply for a banned substance to be exempted in an application.... more...

...SigmaQuest, Inc., a product quality management software provider, announced availability of a software suite that aids in conversion, compliance, and due diligence records for OEMs following the European Union's (E.U.'s) RoHS Directive.... more...

...Design Chain Associates, LLC and EPTAC Corporation announce the availability for sale of the 448-slide deck used for the one-day workshop presented across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This tome provides extensive and up-to-date information, insights, solutions, and links to source material that will help any company comply with the European Union’s Restrictions on the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives. The material covers not only what you need to know today but also the big picture of where Environmental Compliance is headed and what you need to do today to make sure you are prepared for the future. Legislation in China, Japan, and the United States are presented in detail... more...

...If the density of silver is 10.5 g/cc and the density of tin is 7.31 g/cc. What is the density of an alloy of 96% tin/4% silver. Hint: The answer is not obtained by multiplying the densities by the percentages and adding together.... more...

...The impending switch to lead free solder raises issues on the manufacture, processing, and reliability of lead free electronic products.... more...

...In the second of a two-part series, Dow Corning takes a look at what companies should be doing now to prepare for the upcoming EU REACH chemical legislation slated for enforcement in April 2007.... more...

...Despite lower wages and price pressures from overseas competitors, the reflow soldering equipment market in North America has bounced back owing to the adoption of lead-free solder paste. Quality has always been the mainstay of machinery manufactured in this region and continued product enhancements have helped in drastically improving operational costs as well as machine down time. These, along with transition to lead-free compatible equipment, have been the reasons behind the resurgent sales of reflow soldering equipment.... more...

...Absolutely not. Though many in the industry would lead you to believe that a RoHS compliant product ensures lead-free process capability, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth.... more...

...Many companies are guilty of not effectively wiping computer hard drives before they dispose of, however that may be, computers. As a single hard drive can have thousands upon thousands of pages of personal information this can have serious consequences.... more...

...A global crackdown on toxic metals and dangerous chemicals has claimed its first victims. Apple Computer and Palm, two giants of the technology industry, have quietly and voluntarily pulled back products from the European Union when new rules, known as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, took effect on July 1.... more...

...If you're a manufacturer of white goods, consumer equipment, business equipment or a raft of other tools and equipment, then you need to be on top your own processes and those of your suppliers to make sure you're meeting RoHS requirements. David Moss offers this guidance.... more...

...RoHS has been in effect for more than a month. Can you confidently report that your products are compliant, based on a complete and accurate product compliance record? If you answered "no," you are hardly alone. According to a RoHS readiness survey Arena Solutions conducted, 65 percent of respondents said they wouldn't be able to confidently report compliance based on an accurate compliance record.... more...

...The government's proposal for an evidence system to verify producer responsibility for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been criticised for being difficult to manage. Under new "polluter pays" legislation expected to come into force next year, manufacturers and importers of electrical products will have to collect and recycle old equipment from both households and businesses.... more...

...Component distributors in the UK have had a steady June with business up on a year ago while being similar to the previous month.... more...

...E-waste companies say business is booming after California and European Union laws went into effect earlier this year. Electronic Recyclers, an electronic recycling firm in Fresno, California, said Thursday that it became the first in the United States to surpass $1 million of electronic waste in one month.... more...

...Farnell InOne, distributor of electronic and industrial components, is the first in the industry to gain the British Standards Institute 'RoHS Trusted' Kitemark across all its European offices.... more...

...The Federation of Small Businesses is to meet with the Environment Agency this week to discuss the role of small electronics producers under new producer responsibility legislation. In particular, the Federation will raise the issue of fees to be imposed on small electronics producers under the legislation.... more...

...RoHS has been in effect for more than a month. Can you confidently report that your products are compliant, based on a complete and accurate product compliance record?... more...

...Consumers will soon have to start counting the cost of a European Union (EU) environmental initiative. From next July, retailers and manufacturers will be responsible for the disposal of the electrical and electronic devices they produce; but they can ultimately pass much of this cost on to the consumer. Under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, recycling this waste is the responsibility of the manufacturer under the 'producer pays' ethos.... more...

...The IPC workshop, "Lead-free Surface Finishes and Compatibility to Lead Free Soldering: The Road to RoHS Compliance," will give attendees insights into the effect of lead-free surface finishes on solderability and reliability. Topics will include requirements for solderable finishes protecting the bare copper prior to assembly, co-planarity, solder paste spreadability, and joint strength achieved when filling thru-holes. A major obstacle in lead-free soldering - higher solder melting points that cause heat stress and aging - will also be examined.... more...

...Despite a self-titled dissenting opinion from the Aerospace Corporation, the issue of Tin Whiskers won't get in the way of proceeding to launch with Shuttle Discovery on STS-121. Despite the wide-ranging - and at times strongly worded - document, NASA issued its own "rebuttal" rationale to fly "as-is" from seasoned data, in the belief there is little chance that the small slices of metal will fall off on to the circuit boards - which could cause shorts in the orbiter's electrical components, with the potential loss of vehicle and crew.... more...

...Sharing his extensive knowledge of the electronics industry's shift toward environmental responsibility, and the challenges associated with emerging legislative initiatives, Dan Shea, chief technology officer (CTO), Celestica, will present the keynote address "Cradle to Rebirth - The Electronics Industry Goes Green," on October 17, 2006, at Implementing Lead-free: A Hands-on Workshop, at the Rochester Institute of Technology's (RIT) Center for Manufacturing and Assembly (CEMA) in Rochester, N.Y.... more...

...Several months ago, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers began accepting approvals for IEEE 1680, also known as "Standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products." IEEE 1680 evaluates the environmental sanity of computer products based on eight categories: materials selection, environmentally sensitive materials, design for end of life, end-of-life management, energy conservation, product longevity and life-cycle extension, packaging, and corporate performance.... more...

...Location: Montreal, Canada. Dates: 8/16/2006 - 8/17/2006. Description: One month after the EU's RoHS Directive took effect, how will our industry be functioning?... more...

...Electronics Yorkshire has started hiring out specialized test equipment, including a spectrometer, to help ensure products meet the requirements of the RoHS directive. "For many smaller companies, the cost of installing the same equipment would be prohibitive and yet they must be able to prove to customers that they manufacture and install to the highest international standards if they are to compete and grow," said Peter Burnley, manager of the Electronic Yorkshire Technology Center.... more...

...Following four years of successfully delivering comprehensive RoHS WEEE impact assessments, Dionics has developed a complementary new service called Scope Validator.... more...

...Arena Solutions, the leading provider of on-demand product lifecycle management software for manufacturers of all sizes, today announced the results of its ongoing RoHS Readiness Survey. Launched on April 30, 2006, the Arena RoHS Readiness Survey polled hundreds of manufacturers who were not Arena customers to identify and assess risk based on 16 key capabilities around tracking, documenting and reporting of RoHS compliance. According to the survey, 83 percent of respondents were at severe to high risk of not being able to demonstrate compliance or due diligence for RoHS based on their documentation management capabilities.... more...

...Expectations have run high for RoHS readiness in Asia. A recent Global Sources survey estimated that 93 percent of electronics manufacturers in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea would be ready for the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) July deadline. In Taiwan, the government took steps to ensure the island lived up to these expectations.... more...

...In order to enforce the substances ban and the limitation or substitution of hazardous substances such as mercury, cadmium and lead, elemental analysis is obviously the most important control measure for monitoring limiting values. This requires precise analytical systems such as X-ray fluorescence, ICP and atomic absorption spectrometers.... more...

...EU member states voted in favor of six new RoHS exemptions last month that include lead and cadmium in printing inks, lead in finishes of fine-pitch components other than connectors, lead in solders for specific capacitors, lead oxide in certain displays and lamps, and lead alloys as solder for specific transducer applications.... more...

...US based PLM-supplier Arena Solutions Publishes Results of its Ongoing Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) Readiness Survey. According to the survey, 83 Percent of Manufacturers at High to Severe Risk of Not Being Able to Track, Document and Report on RoHS Compliance.... more...

...Not-for-profit recycling body Repic has given its support for the publication of the UK DTI's key proposals to be introduced under the WEEE Directive.... more...

...The channel has shunned the government’s announcement on the final phase of the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, because of its lack of detail. As revealed by CRN Online last week, the government announced that producers will become responsible for recycling electronic waste produced in the UK from 1 July 2007. However, channel players are still none the wiser as to their responsibilities under the WEEE regulations.... more...

...In addition to being RoHS-compliant, meaning free of all banned substances including lead, sockets must be selected which are RoHS-compatible - capable of withstanding the elevated temperatures present in lead-free reflow profiles. To achieve both compliance and compatibility, typical BGA sockets have changed in two major ways.... more...

...With product traceability regulations increasing, companies should look to PLM competencies to assist with compliance according to Eric Karofsky, an analyst with AMR. Almost all manufacturers are facing product traceability regulations including: End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) for automotive, 21 CFR Part 11 in consumer products and medical devices, Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) for the electronics industry and the Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) directive for the chemical industry.... more...

...To help US manufacturers' efforts to meet the new European Union RoHS Directives, Innov-X Systems has launched a low-cost rental programme for portable XRF analyzers... more...

...July 1 has come and gone but the RoHS Directive hasn't gone away. In fact China is looking to implement its own version by March 1, 2007. This directive, the MII Methods Law still needs some clarification but will require testing of the product for banned substances, a test report and a label to accompany the product. This does seem to be much more demanding than its European equivalent.... more...

...Critics of the EU environmental directive aim to influence future green regulations across the globe. Those speaking out against RoHS claim that the European Union did not base the environmental directive on robust science. In particular, they refer to a number of scientific studies that show the conversion to lead-free solder runs contrary to the best interests of the environment.... more...

...Defra has published a study into the hazardous nature of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) arising in household waste recycling centres. The study could form the basis for guidance produced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with respect to new WEEE regulations... more...

...With one third of global electronic sales in the EU, these directives have rippled through the global tech industry, from the well-known name brand companies to the many large and small firms in their outsourced supply chains. But these directives will matter for all companies, not just those in the information and computer technology (ICT) industry.... more...

...The United States and other trading nations around the globe want the European Union (EU) to modify a sweeping new chemicals regulation that could affect the import and export of 30,000 manmade compounds, many of which are used in common products worldwide.... more...