RoHS compliance. How it will impact you.

The European Union's Restriction on Hazardous Substances directive officially goes into effect July 1, 2006. California law goes into effect at the beginning of 2007.

Any company that thinks this will not affect them is seriously misguided.

Even if a company intends to continue exclusively with Tin Lead assembly they will not be in a position to control every aspect of the supply chain. Eventually they will be forced to accept Lead free components. The choice will then be to re-tin the components or assemble them.

Manufacturers of Bare boards and components may continue to supply Tin Lead at a premium.

With less than 11 months to go companies should be well on their way with the following items well in hand

For companies implementing the RoHS directive.

If you are required to have UL, CE or other such approval to sell your product you should be sending your product to the various Standards Organizations for approval NOW. Given the current low level of lead free assembly they will not be able to cope with the last minute rush for compliance when businesses finally realize that they have to switch to Lead Free assembly.

For companies intending to continue with Tin Lead.

We strongly recommend contacting your certifying authority to discuss the ramifications of mixing Tin Lead and Lead Free or re-tinning components.

There is growing information on the potential problems caused by soldering Lead free components with Tin Lead

WE CANNOT STRESS THE FOLLOWING ENOUGH.

TEST LABORATORIES AND REGULATORY AGENCIES  WILL BE THE BOTTLENECK FOR LEAD FREE PRODUCT IMPLEMENTATION HERE IN THE USA.