Changeover to Leadfree

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All, I might be going over old ground here but I would li... - Aug 02, 2005 by

AJ, The important thing to remember is that any product sol... - Aug 02, 2005 by

Wait. I think you need to add that any product sold in EUROP... - Aug 03, 2005 by A Very Frazzled Man

Connectors, IC sockets etc. have traditionally use a lot of ... - Aug 03, 2005 by Rob

#35839

Changeover to Leadfree | 2 August, 2005

All,

I might be going over old ground here but I would like to get some idea as to when people are planning to switch over to a Leadfree Process.

I know they say July 2006 but surely we should be switching over a couple of months before this?

any feedback is appreciated.

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AndyB

#35847

Changeover to Leadfree | 2 August, 2005

AJ, The important thing to remember is that any product sold after this date must be lead-free. If your product is sold within weeks of manufacture, then you can wait until the last minute. If your product may sit for several months before being purchased, then you need to start thinking a little earlier then a couple of months. The majority of our customers products will be lead-free 4 to 6 months before the deadline

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A Very Frazzled Man

#35881

Changeover to Leadfree | 3 August, 2005

Wait. I think you need to add that any product sold in EUROPE needs to be lead-free by July 1st, 2006. And let's clarify further. Lead is just one of numerous elements that will be restricted. In fact, quoted directly from the directive: "Member States shall ensure that from 1 July 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market does not contain, Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, poly-brominated biphals (PBB), or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)." So as much as everybody is talking "lead-free" we really need to look at the banned substances as a whole. EDUCATE YOURSELF!! Cadmium and Hexavalent Chromium are used ALL OVER THE PLACE! Cable insulations, Metal Enclosures, hardware, dyes, paint, etc, etc. If you're not going to take the time to find out what your products contain, BELIEVE ME your competitors will!! Just ask SONY!! Hundreds of thousands of PS2 consoles were blocked from being imported into the Netherlands last Christmas because a competitor allegedly tipped off the authorities that their controller cables contained Cadmium. It can and will happen again.

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Rob

#35883

Changeover to Leadfree | 3 August, 2005

Connectors, IC sockets etc. have traditionally use a lot of recycled plastic in them.

There are no guarentees that there are no PBB/PBDE's in them, so some manufacturers are having to change back to new plastics.

So plastic goes in the ground instead of being recycled as it may end up in the grouund again anyway.....

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