...Chinese home appliance manufacturer Changhong has announced in Beijing the launch of the 2007 China Green Manufacturing Enterprise Manifesto. Along with many other electrical manufacturers, Changhong promises to abide by the relevant state laws and regulations and promote the green manufacturing causes in China.... more...

...Process engineers who regularly work with electronic equipment can find out more about the WEEE Directive practical implications at a workshop organised by the UCLAN Centre for Waste Management... more...

...A US aerospace industry group, working under the auspices of the Government Electronics Industries Association (GEIA) will release its guidelines on performance and qualification testing for lead-free solder during the first quarter of 2008.... more...

...Kester announces that Peter Biocca, its senior market development engineer, will present a technical paper at the upcoming International Conference on Soldering and Reliability . . . Peter will make his presentation, a case study on the Validation of SAC305 and SnCu-based Lead-free SMT, Wave and Hand Soldering... more...

...RS Components is the latest big name distributor to sign up to a compliance scheme in accordance with the UK government’s WEEE Regulations. RS has chosen the WeeeCare scheme which has national coverage and which will collect, recycle or dispose of, in an environmentally sound way, obligated WEEE.... more...

...SMTA China announces that it will sponsor the upcoming SMTA China East 2007 Conference. The conference will be supported by Reed Exhibitions in conjunction with the Nepcon China 2007 exhibition at the Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Centre and is scheduled to take place 22-25 April 2007 in Shanghai, PR China.... more...

...The Environment Agency has urged companies that produce, rebrand or import electrical and electronic equipment such as televisions and toasters to sign up with an approved compliance scheme by 15 March 2007. Thirty seven compliance schemes, which will help companies meet the requirements of the WEEE Regulations by collecting and recycling products on their behalf, have now been approved by the Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).... more...

...The biggest complaints center around the lack of clarification, and lack of harmonized registration and reporting requirements across the member states. Some WEEE critics are also calling for the promotion of eco-design and need for enforcement.... more...

...Science minister Malcolm Wicks has confirmed that there will be no "partial producer responsibility" for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) between April 1 and July 1. And, the minister revealed that some progress is being made in organising retailers' obligations under the WEEE Regulations.... more...

...Implementation of the Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive is "finally" settling down, nine months after it came into force, as companies begin to grasp the nature of their obligations, a European Commission spokesperson has stated.... more...

...As a recent reseller for the GoodBye Chain Group's award-winning Material Declaration Wizard (MDW) database with full XML 1752 functionality, RoHS-International Ltd is pleased to announce its initial sale in the Australia and New Zealand Region. Last month, MDW won the coveted Vision Award from SMT Magazine.... more...

...Almost nine months in, how is EU RoHS going? What companies are having trouble? And what are they doing about it? The European Commission’s answer is an intelligent guess at the moment, being in the midst of an analysis of just this question, and the EC doesn’t expect to have an official answer for several months.... more...

...Beyond RoHS, WEEE and other environmental Directives, there are broader macro-forces taking place that - like the Quality movement a quarter century ago - will re-define electronics manufacturing and create "winners" and "losers". While they are more often discussed in executive suites than in "compliance" meetings, we shouldn't be fooled: they are seismic and sometimes controversial events that will impact our companies and our jobs. The purpose of this and future articles is to explore these macro-forces and to encourage the creation of value from these macro-forces.... more...

...Mike Burkett of AMR Research explains the hurdles that remain as companies struggle to comply with environmental directives. He also advocates a federal U.S. RoHS directive.... more...

...Companies should get registered with a compliance scheme as soon as possible if they are still an unregistered WEEE producer, said the Environment Agency. "If they have missed the deadline and they are producers, our advice is get yourself in a scheme as soon as possible," Adrian Harding, policy advisor for producer responsibility at the Environment Agency told EW. "That will be seen as better than leaving it altogether."... more...

...SMART Group is producing an A5 colour "Lead-Free Defect Guide" to be launched at Nepcon Electronics in May.... more...

...Addressing the needs of global manufacturing, Henkel has introduced yet another advanced lead-free solder paste material designed for the ultimate in manufacturing flexibility and superior performance regardless of regional climatic conditions.... more...

...Although the cut off for joining a WEEE compliance scheme passed last week, producers of electrical equipment who missed the deadline should be looking to sign up as soon as possible, rather than waiting anxiously for the Environment Agency to come calling.... more...

...SMEs are still not ready to cope with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation which comes into play on 1 July, new research from online VAR WStore has revealed.... more...

...Computer Aid International says new WEEE directive guidelines offer the computer industry a huge opportunity to reduce its carbon footprint at the same time as reducing its cost of compliance - by donating PCs for charitable re-use.... more...

...Just when channel players started to think that the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive could not get any more confusing, resellers are being called distributors under the regulations. Laura Hailstone takes a closer look... more...

...An IT firm has launched a new campaign to get businesses to make their upgrade cycles longer in order to reduce their carbon footprint. Reseller Support Warehouse says that IT managers can follow the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive more easily by waiting longer to upgrade their hardware, reports IT Week.... more...

...An industry figure warns that companies not signed up with new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Weee) guidelines are breaking the law... more...

...John Burke uses EPA research to show lead-free solder is worse environmentally than leaded solder. He launched Push Back (rohsusa.com) to challenge laws against leaded solder.... more...

...From 1 July 2007 all of the provisions contained in the EU's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive will come into force in the UK. However, despite this deadline being less than four months away, research has suggested that small businesses are still not ready to cope with the new Regulations.... more...

...MUNICH, Germany - Coming together under a United Nations initiative, several global companies and non-government organizations have launched an attempt to address ecological and environmental threats associated with the recycling of electronic waste in developing countries.... more...

...Without a good set of tools, RoHS compliance management can quickly become a big headache for all parties involved. Following these four steps (including BOM scrubbing, data collection, compliance validation and declaration) is a good place to start. By Emily Wang, marketing manager, Pacific Oaks Technology, Inc.... more...

...Electronic products exported to China are now required to comply with Chinese RoHS regulations. A new test service offered by Soldertec Global has been established to help European exporters comply with this latest legislation. Many products outside the current scope of the EU WEEE & RoHS Directive fall within the scope of the China-RoHS legislation. In fact, virtually no exporter of electronic products to China will remain unaffected.... more...

...Visitors to Innov-X's Booth at the SMTA’s Houston & Dallas, Texas, Vendor Days will learn how using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) can screen components, parts and PCB's for compliance with the European Union’s RoHS Directives. Recent studies indicate that up to 50% of supplier Certifications stating products are RoHS compliant, yet fail to pass testing.... more...

...New Delhi, March. 20 (PTI): The laptops manufactured by a leading computer firm have a number of highly toxic susbstances that are hazardous to health and environment, international environmental NGO Greenpeace today alleged.... more...

...According to a study by the Danish Toxicology Centre, the fumes and vapours emanating from lead-free solders may be more dangerous to workers and to the environment than those emitted by traditional lead-containing solders.... more...

...The SMTA has announced two new educational opportunities in conjunction with upcoming events in Southern California and in Oulu, Finland. The first event is a course on "Lead-Free for the Exemptee (Medical, Telecom, Defense) - Surviving in a Lead-Free World" at the Del Mar Electronics Show in San Diego, CA, and the second is a course on "Embedded Chip SiP for Cost Effective 3D Packaging" at the European Microelectronics and Packaging Conference & Exhibition.... more...

...EMS providers and OEM board level assemblers have an increasing number of procurement options to choose from when selecting a wave solder equipment supplier. As the effects of globalization continue, the competitive landscape is changing as a number of formerly geographic focused wave solder equipment suppliers enter the international capital equipment supply chain.... more...

...Thousands of electronics companies based in the UK could be unwittingly breaking the law after today, if they have not signed up to a recycling scheme for waste electronics. Under new producer responsibility regulations - called the WEEE Regulations - all manufacturers, importers or re-branders of electrical goods must register with one of the 37 approved producer compliance schemes to contribute to UK recycling.... more...

...FCI has added China RoHS information for many products on the FCI website in the section RoHS microsite, to be in line with the Chinese environmental regulations. A button "Chinese ROHS" is now available in the landing page of the ROHS microsite as well as in the ROHS/LF P/N search page. FCI part numbers can be selected in the microsite search box and information about China RoHS status is listed.... more...

...SMEs remain wildly ignorant of new electronic equipment disposal regs, according to a leading UK IT reseller. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation passed another significant milestone this week. The deadline for kit producers to join a disposal compliance scheme was 15 March. A survey conducted by WStore, the online biz-IT reseller, found that "a staggering 47 per cent of respondents...had never heard of the WEEE legislation."... more...

...The SMTA announced today two new educational opportunities in conjunction with upcoming events in Southern California and in Oulu, Finland. The first event is a course on "Lead-Free for the Exemptee (Medical, Telecom, Defense) - Surviving in a Lead-Free World" at the Del Mar Electronics Show in San Diego, CA, and the second is a course on "Embedded Chip SiP for Cost Effective 3D Packaging" at the European Microelectronics and Packaging Conference & Exhibition.... more...

...Britain and 10 other European Union (EU) member states have been attacked by an unusual alliance of electrical goods manufacturers and environmentalists who allege they have failed to properly implement the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive on waste from electrical and electronic equipment.... more...

...Leigh Holloway of environmental consultancy eco3 will speak at Subcon 2007 on current environmental legislation and what buyers and suppliers need to be aware of.... more...

...Soldertec Global has established a new test service to help European exporters of electronic products comply with Chinese RoHS regulations.... more...

...The Government has failed to consider the impact on UK business with its recent introduction of the WEEE Directive. Falling over backwards to comply with the whims of Brussels bureaucrats, the Government has, through lack of targeted information and properly funded publicity, put a great number of decent British companies at risk of breaking the law.... more...

...Charity Computer Aid International says the new WEEE directive guidelines offer the computer industry a huge opportunity to reduce its carbon footprint at the same time as reducing its cost of compliance by donating PCs for charitable re-use.... more...

...Ageus Solutions, a leader in global environmental compliance services, has expanded its services to offer comprehensive RoHS Physical Audits to verify the accuracy of the information included in due diligence documentation provided with imports.... more...

...EU RoHS compliance does not equate to China RoHS Compliance for many, if not all products containing passive SMT resistors. This means it is highly unlikely that the green "e" label (Logo 1) can be used for any product using SMT components.... more...

...Modified tin copper alloy offers outstanding performance without any silver content, making it an economical alternative to lead-free solders containing 3-4% silver.... more...

...Anna Cyganowski, a senior at Notre Dame Preparatory School and one of 300 semifinalists in the nationwide 2007 Intel National Science Talent Search, is preoccupied with tin whiskers. She's so concerned about tin whiskers, tiny metal filaments that have appeared in the circuitry of NASA space shuttles and caused electrical shorts, that she spent last summer studying them at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt.... more...

...Speedline Technologies has introduced its new Electrovert VectraES(TM) wave soldering system. The VectraES provides leadfree capability and focuses on optimizing performance.... more...

...A RoHS audit can significantly reduce, or eliminate, the risk of producing non-compliant products. This means incorporating RoHS requirements into your quality system's review process and implementing a RoHS training program must be key priorities.... more...

...Getting and staying in business, especially in the semiconductor industry, requires compliance to standards as this can define profit or loss for companies. This month, China starts its implementation of the RoHS directive. And while some vendors see this as a challenge, other companies complying with the standard this early say that it is an opportunity to make greater inroads in the market.... more...

...The Atlanta Chapter of the Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) announced today that SMTA Expo, its one-day conference and trade show event on April 19, will feature free technical sessions of interest to electronics professionals. Technical sessions will be held from 10 am - 11 am and 1 pm - 2 pm at the Gwinnett Civic Center in Duluth, Georgia.... more...

...The European Union's Energy Using Products (EuP) directive from the European Union (EU) is pushing electronics manufacturers into adopting design-for-compliance strategies. The EuP became law in the EU in 2005, and member states must transpose this directive into national law in 2007. Some claim the EuP will have a greater effect on the electronics industry than the EU's RoHS directive.... more...

...Although compliance to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive does not commence until 1 July, there are other deadlines the channel needs to be aware of. Laura Hailstone looks at the information vendors and VARs should know... more...

...Ageus Solutions is pleased to announce that the International Symposium on Environmental Standards for Electronics 2007 (ISESE'07) will be held on October 10th and 11th in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.... more...

...SEPA - the Scottish Environment Protection Agency - has started approving producer compliance schemes to assist electronics manufacturers with their new recycling duties under the WEEE Regulations.... more...

...Testing house RFI Global Services Ltd is partnering with environment consultancy Environ to deliver what they say is the first approved U.K. Producer Compliance Scheme under the pending waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE ) directive.... more...

... The Environment Agency today (Thursday) urged companies that produce, rebrand or import electrical and electronic equipment such as televisions and toasters to sign up with an approved compliance scheme by 15 March 2007. 37 compliance schemes, which will help companies meet the requirements of the WEEE Regulations by collecting and recycling products on their behalf, have now been approved by the Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).... more...

...Electronic products sold in China will carry green or orange tags to inform customers whether they are environment-friendly or not, in a move to reduce electronic pollution. A new set of regulations, seen as the Chinese version of the Restriction on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Directive, took effect on Thursday.... more...

...The Atlanta Chapter of the Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) announced today that SMTA Expo, its one-day conference and trade show event on April 19, will feature free technical sessions of interest to electronics professionals. Technical sessions will be held from 10 am - 11 am and 1 pm - 2 pm at the Gwinnett Civic Center in Duluth, Georgia.... more...

...Even as the European Union (EU) and South Korea are due to enact new environmental regulations later this year, manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment continue to face additional environment restrictions with the roll-out of China Restriction of Hazardous Substances (China RoHS) since March 1, 2007.... more...

...Leading companies including Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Dell, Ericsson and Philips and Cisco Systems have joined a United Nations initiative that aims to harmonize world policy and legislative approaches to electronic recycling and to standardize recycling processes..... more...

...Devoted to the development of new radiation detector and systems technology, RMD Instruments LLC announces that it will showcase the LeadTracer-RoHS XRF system in booth L46 at the upcoming Nepcon exhibition and conference scheduled to take place May 15 to 17, 2007 at the Birmingham NEC in Birmingham, United Kingdom.... more...

...VeriFone Holdings, today announced that it has achieved compliance with the "Administrative Measures on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products" - commonly referred to as China RoHS - as required by China's Ministry of Information Industry.... more...

...To make declaration easier for English speaking companies, RoHS-International has developed a declaration template in MS Word. This template contains 26 of the most used assembly names in both English and Chinese. Assembly names include Printed Circuit Assemblies, Main Printed Circuit Assembly, Display Printed Circuit Assembly, Power Supply Unit, Cables, Fasteners, Metalwork, Enclosure etc.... more...

...The Environment Agency (EA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), have today published their final list of approved producer compliance schemes (PCSs) for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. Bob Mead, WEEE project manager at the EA, said: "From 1 July 2007, producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), including manufacturers, rebranders and importers will be responsible for paying for the treatment and recycling of products at the end of their life."... more...

...With the March 1 deadline for China RoHS compliance fast approaching, distributor Arrow Electronics Inc. said it is sponsoring a series of seminars and offering resources on its Web site to help steer customers through the maze of uncertainties.... more...

...The Mission of Canada to the EU is providing a half day seminar on RoHS/WEEE enforcement in the EU and an overview of China RoHS. Experts in environmental legislation affecting electronics from Ageus Solutions will discuss the two principle methods of implementation of RoHS/WEEE enforcement in the EU, and related risks to sales and revenue.... more...

...Some electronics manufacturers confused; smaller companies likely to be more affected.... more...

...A new test service offered by Soldertec Global has been established to help European exporters comply with this latest legislation. Many products outside the current scope of the EU WEEE & RoHS Directive fall within the scope of the China-RoHS legislation. In fact, virtually no exporter of electronic products to China will remain unaffected.... more...

...Arrow Electronics, Inc. is assisting its customers as new environmental compliance regulations in China come into effect on March 1. The company is sponsoring informational seminars and also offering resources on its Web site as Europe, China and other industrial nations strengthen their commitment to environmental protection.... more...

...Customers are being offered advice through a series of seminars in order to help guide them through the legislation involved with China's upcoming directive, the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS).... more...

...The XyflexPro+ features advanced technology that delivers an increased speed rating that is over 30% higher than other dispensing systems, and claims twice the accuracy.... more...

...The DTI has published its long-awaited advice on the implementation in the UK of the European WEEE Directive, which tells firms how they must manage their electrical waste by supporting recycling of products. The WEEE Guidance Notes, if you can call an 80 page document notes, can be found on the DTI website.... more...

...Months have passed since the July 1, 2006 European Union RoHS deadline, but the electronics industry is still far from complying with the directive. Collecting and managing the data efficiently remains one of the biggest hurdles.... more...