...IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries commissioned a report on miniaturization and electronics manufacturing, conducted by Prismark Partners (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). The association also weighed in on the European Commission's review of RoHS, suggesting that the EU consider technical, environmental, and resource impacts of additional RoHS action.... more...

...The Government Relations and Environment, Health and Safety Committees of IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries have submitted comments in response to the European Commission's request for industry participation regarding the review of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.... more...

...The IPC has formally urged the European Commission not to change the RoHS Directive, and to hold any proposed changes until their technical feasibility can be reviewed. "Why compound the problem by expanding the scope of RoHS, when there are unresolved adverse reliability interconnect issues and greater adverse environmental, global warming and resource depletion impacts with the lead-free alternatives?", said Lee Wilmot, director, Environmental, Health & Safety for TTM Technologies, in a press statement.... more...

...The Government Relations and Environment, Health and Safety Committees of IPC have submitted comments to the European Commission reviewing the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. With the threat of an expansion in scope of RoHS including additional substance restrictions, the elimination of existing technology exemptions, and the inclusion of more electronics equipment, IPC urged the Commission for no changes at this time and that any proposed changes be held until the technical feasibility of their implementation can be reviewed thoroughly.... more...

...As we've reported here at EDN, the European Union's ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive is currently under review. This review, as mandated by Article 6 of the directive, could see expansion in scope of ROHS including additional substance restrictions, the elimination of existing technology exemptions, and the inclusion of more electronics equipment.... more...

...Chemical industry software specialist Safeware Quasar is to launch an innovative new solution to help businesses comply with complex new European legislation at its annual conference for existing and future clients. REACH+ is the first in a new series of modules from Safeware designed to help the chemicals industry comply with REACH, the new European law on chemicals. The legislation came into force on 1 June 2007 and over the next 11 years will create a single database of all chemicals used in the European Union (EU), around 30,000 in total.... more...

...In recent years, we've seen an outpouring of mandates and regulations aimed at making electronic goods (along with their production and disposal) less harmful to the environment. These range from Europe's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives to corporate initiatives, such as Wal-Mart's, that impose "green" imperatives on suppliers. Regardless of the source, these initiatives are not optional. Electronics manufacturers must comply, or lose the ability to sell in certain markets.... more...

...Electronic manufacturers must invest in the appropriate structures for regulatory compliance with environmental agencies as well as for the transport and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) they place in the European Economic Area... more...

...NEW DELHI, INDIA: The next time you want to throw away your old batteries or CDs or can’t think of what to do with your used mobile phone or computer, think beyond relegating them to an unused corner of the room. Instead hunt around for ‘Special Bin’ or ‘Dropping Centers’ where these products will be taken to be disposed in an environment-friendly fashion.... more...

...HP SHOWED OFF two new Intel-powered PCs, the DC 5800 and the DC 7800, at a special event in San Francisco this week. The companies reckons the workstations are "energy-conscious". The DC 7800 features optional 16GB Sandisk solid-state hard disk. The drive will add $300 to the cost, but offers faster boot and load times and improved power efficiency, HP reckons... more...

...Hewlett Packard (HP) has praised the Europe-wide waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive while unveiling its own energy saving workstations. Working with Intel, the computing giant designed two new PCs to offer maximum power efficiency, the DC 5800 and the DC 7800.... more...

...A COMPETITION winner was able to trade a WEEE for a Wii by recycling unused electrical goods. The Environment Agency and Currys on Alban Retail Park teamed up to collect Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) to recycle the unwanted goods.... more...

...WEEE producer compliance scheme Electrolink is to meet with government this week to discuss issues regarding the market for producer responsibility evidence. The scheme has written to its waste management partners to update them ahead of the meeting with BERR, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, scheduled for tomorrow.... more...

...The European Union (EU) RoHS Directive was adopted in 2003 and came into force on 1st July 2006. Since then other countries around the world have begun to consider their own RoHS position and some have already adopted similar legislation. In the EU, the RoHS Directive is now being reviewed and extensive changes could well occur. This article describes the possible changes in Europe and the current status of RoHS-type legislation worldwide.... more...

...Apple has finally scored a few positive points from Greenpeace. The environmental organisation has given the MacBook Air a thumbs up for its eco-friendly qualities. Despite the company previously receiving an uncomplimentary environmental score from Greenpeace, the campaigner claimed that Apple's on the right path with the Air.... more...

...California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed an assembly bill that would have more closely aligned California’s ROHS (restriction-of-hazardous-substances) law and regulations with the EU (European Union) ROHS directive. The bill, AB 48, would have expanded California ROHS to include all electrical and electronic equipment, as opposed to its current requirements for "covered electronic devices,"... more...

...Data Clean Corporation now offers a self-administered Tin Whisker test kit to help identify the presence of Tin Whiskers. The Tin Whisker test kit is a natural extension of product offerings from Data Clean, a known specialist in Zinc Whisker identification and remediation. Tin Whiskers and Zinc Whiskers are tiny metallic crystalline growths believed caused by stress at the molecular level. Phenomena within the Tin or Zinc plating on many common metal components causes the molecules to align in such a way to produce tiny growths, or whiskers, on the surface. These fuzz-like pure metal growths can easily break off, become airborne, and enter sensitive electronic systems such as computers, servers, and telephone systems.... more...

...Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. today announced its "Pervasive Green" initiative in the retail industry, a company-wide mission to develop and promote products that are both created and used in an environmentally friendly manner. . . . Fujitsu has instituted several green initiatives to safeguard the environment, including: ISO 14001-2004 Certification, RoHS/WEEE Compliance, TeamPoS 3000 Hardware, U-Scan Self-Checkout, Fujitsu Environmental Protection Program, Product Recycling Program, Green Policy Innovation Project, Green Infrastructure Solution.... more...

...Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba have teamed up to form the Electronics Manufacturers Recycling Management company (MRM) to provide a recycling service to other electronics manufacturers, state and local government authorities. In the US, there is no WEEE and so no country-wide electronics kit recycling facilities. Sony has set up national recycling facilities in the USA but only for its own products.... more...

...After its successful premier last year in Shanghai, the China SMT Forum has now been scheduled for November 4-6, 2008 and will take place in the Shanghai Inter-national Exhibition Center (INTEX). The organiser Business Media China AG has issued the call for pa-pers and is again expecting 250 participants for the conference and most industry leaders to attend the newly developed exhibition, which is already half sold out.... more...

...Intertek Ageus Solutions is pleased to host a free online RoHS webinar on January 24th, 2008 addressing the driving forces behind RoHS conversion of medical electronics. Although medical devices are currently excluded from the scope of the RoHS directive until 2010(+), many medical electronics manufacturers are starting their RoHS conversion activities.... more...

...Visitors to www.manncorp.com can access a total of 10 different lead-free wave machines. Many carry small footprints - with lengths of as little as 2020mm (6.6 ft.), yet accommodate generous PCB widths of up to 400mm (15.75"). Even the larger versions, averaging 4100 mm (13.5 ft) overall length, are said to be 20 to 30% shorter than other higher-priced full-performance wave solder machines.... more...

...The electrical giant Curry’s has collected and recycled a quarter of a million products from its customers since the implementation of the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. Since July 1 2007 Curry’s has offered its customers the chance to bring back major appliances such as TVs, personal computers and large white goods in order for them to be recycled.... more...

... Wicks calls for more electrical equipment recycling. Christmas may be a fading memory, but many will be wondering what to do with their old TVs, radios, laptops and fridges. The billions spent annually on new electrical and electronic equipment are making this one of the fastest growing types of waste in Europe. Recycling these goods and appliances has become easier, through the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which has seen a UK-wide collection and recycling system put in place.... more...

...In the wake of Christmas, thousands of retired television sets, computers, MP3 players, George Foreman grills and other assorted electronic and electrical goods are left festering in cupboards and under stairs as their owners switch allegiance to shiny new upgrades. Don’t let them linger say IBM Ireland as the company plans to hold a waste recycling day this Saturday, 12th January, where members of the public can bring "anything with a plug or battery".... more...

...An industry forum will be held after the opening ceremony featuring two of the leading experts on environmental legislation in China. They are Huang Jianzhong, Director, Bureau of Economy System Reform & Economy Operation for Ministry of Information Industry (MII)' and Hongzun Zhang, a Partner with the law firm Holland & Knight. They will share their insights on the pending China RoHS legislation.... more...

...Forget about the toxic lead-lined MRI suites, and do not throw to the wind the outdated CT systems. Squash the frustration for those MRI bulbs that burn out and take far too long to replace. Medical imaging is going "green," and several new technologies are poised to enhance the medical imaging and healthcare industry.... more...

...More than 80 jobs could be created for inmates at a Suffolk prison if plans for a waste transfer station are given the go-ahead. Waste management firm Reclaimed Appliances hopes to win consent to use a building at Highpoint Prison, in Stradishall, to process electrical appliance waste.... more...

...UK consumers are being encouraged to recycle their unwanted electrical and electronic equipment, in a bid to stem waste going to landfill. Due to the WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, the UK now has a nationwide collection and recycling network with 1556 collection sites.... more...

...If you thought compliance with Europe’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) would get you through the next phase of environmental mandates, think again. ROHS was only a preview of the challenges the electronics supply chain will be facing in 2008 and beyond.... more...

...Electronic equipment recycling firm M Baker Recycling is expected to enter administration within a week. The company, which has its headquarters in Exeter and a plant in St Helens, has advised its bank of its intentions following a period of "general trading difficulties".... more...

...A new set of regulations, as well as a tightening of existing directives governing electronic and electrical equipment, is set to make designers take the lifecycle of a product into account in 2008. The waste electrical and electronics equipment (WEEE) directive and the restriction of hazardous materials (RoHS) legislation are set to get more stringent, closing down certain exemptions, claimed Gary Nevison, director for legislation and environmental affairs for Newark.... more...

...Jeremy Faludi is one Worldchanging's secret weapons. Jer's recent Your Stuff: If It Isn't Grown, It Must Be Mined is a must read, but you also owe it to yourself to check out his terrific and under-read Green Computing Update, which comes in four parts... more...

...Contract manufacturers blame poor communication with manufacturers for 79 percent of new product introduction (NPI) delays and 30 percent of product compliance issues (e.g. RoHS and WEEE), causing over 90 percent of suppliers to incur cost impacts that ultimately drive up outsourcing-related costs for manufacturers, according to a study conducted by Arena Solutions, an on-demand product lifecycle management (PLM) software provider.... more...

...Ministers are seeking to raise awareness of WEEE recycling facilities among consumers, in the first publicity of the government's electronics producer responsibility system to tie in with the Christmas period. Energy minister Malcolm Wicks and recycling minister Joan Ruddock linked up today to inform householders who "will be wondering what to do with their old TVs, radios, laptops and fridges" following the end of the festive season.... more...

...Dr. Lasky: A few days ago, I promised more from Tim Jensen on Halide-free soldering. Here it is:... more...

...One of my blog readers, the author of the "Green" Supply Chain Analyst Weblog, posed an interesting question in one of my previous posts. Essentially he asked, What defines a green product or service? Not only is it an interesting question, it's an important one.... more...

...Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the worlds leading manufacturer of handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers, will be demonstrating its Thermo Scientific NITON XL3 700 Series analyzer at the MD&M West Exposition, January 29-31, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California, Booth #1492.... more...

...A consultation paper on the implementation of the EU Batteries Directive has been issued by BERR (Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), which covers the UK. Increasing the level of recycling and reducing some of the millions batteries that go to landfill annually are at the heart of plans published, according to BERR.... more...

...Following a festive period in which millions of people gave or received electric or electronic products, government ministers urged consumers to recycle their waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). In a bid to raise awareness of the electronics producer responsibility system and inform consumers how they can contribute to compliance with the EU WEEE directive, energy minister Malcolm Wicks and recycling minister Joan Ruddock issued a plea to Britons.... more...

...Tim, RoHS has been in effect now for almost 18 months. It appears that SAC 305 (96.5% Sn, 3.0% Ag, 0.5% Cu) appears to be the alloy of choice for solder paste. First, is this true from your perspective and if so, why is SAC 305 more dominant than the near eutectic SAC 387?... more...

...Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers, will be demonstrating its Thermo Scientific NITON XL3 700 Series analyzer at the MD&M West Exposition, January 29-31, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California, Booth #1492.... more...

...ITs go-green movement comes from the idea that technology should turn simple things that have been well understood for decades into a cause, cutting needless power consumption, for instance, or ensuring that the materials from which it fashions its latest products are recyclable and don't poison the environment in their manufacture.... more...