RoHS Compliance

According to EU Directive 2002/95/EG design engineers need to identify in the new designs, lead free electronic and electrical components in compliance with the Restrictions on Hazardous Substances directive - commonly known as the lead-free directive. The substances covered by the RoHS directive are scientifically well researched and evaluated, also have been subject to different measures both at community and at the national level. 25 EU member countries need to ensure that starting on July 1, 2006 new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market does not contain lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

Lead-Free with CablEquity™

A general thinking might point to the fact that the problem can be solved in manufacturing. Although, there are certainly significant manufacturing issues, simply replacing parts with lead-free equivalents creates other issues. For example, not all replacement parts are compatible; not all parts have lead-free replacements; last minute changes are costly and risky, etc. The consequences are:

• Unpredictability
• Recurring hidden costs
• Wasted manufacturing time
• Delayed schedules
• Lost market opportunities

The lack of consistency within the industry is making the transition into RoHS compliancy difficult; however, using effective tools in the design phase is the key to a smooth transition into the RoHS era.

TurboTools offers a unique approach. CablEquity software incorporates a comprehensive database containing all components’ data, including RoHS information. This allows an engineer to see component information and RoHS compliance data while selecting components. Using CablEquity design process, an engineer can guarantee that components used in the design are RoHS compliant.

CablEquity helps engineering teams make RoHS an inherent part of the design process and meet compliance by establishing product’s parts status.

Who will RoHS affect? Please note the following:

• RoHS and WEEE will affect each and every electromechanical product manufacturer directly or indirectly, regardless of geographical location or the equipment they produce.
• The state of California is initiating their own version of EU’s RoHs Directive, The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, or SB20 for short, scheduled to take effect in January 2007.
• 20 other states in the United States have bills pending for RoHS-like regulations.
• The green procurement practices (JPSSI) in Japan has more stringent mandates than RoHS.
• Taiwan, Korea, Canada, and Australia are initiating versions of the RoHS directive.
• China’s Regulation for Pollution Control of Electronic Products (RPCEP), which is modeled after RoHS and WEEE, has more restrictions than RoHS and scheduled to go into affect by July 2006.
• RoHS will have an impact on the entire electronics industry. It will directly affect marketing, development, and manufacturing, as well as purchasing, materials control, and supply chain.