The IPC SPVC position statement reads, “The IPC Solder Products Value Council supports governments, non-governmental organizations and industry groups in their efforts to eliminate trade of ‘conflict metals,’ especially mined tin from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The IPC SPVC believes that based on solder manufacturers’ position in the value chain, smelters and mines are in the best position to develop and implement a system to ensure mineral traceability from the exporter back to the mine site and to develop chain of custody data. Furthermore, the IPC SPVC supports ITRI’s (formerly known as the International Tin Research Institute) efforts to achieve that goal.”
The purpose of the workshop held by EICC and GeSI was the development and implementation of a credible system that could validate that minerals are sourced responsibly.
Members of the IPC SPVC include: AIM; Amtech, Inc.; Cookson Electronics; Henkel Corporation; Indium Corporation; Inventec Performance Chemicals; Kester; Koki Company Ltd.; Metallic Resources, Inc.; Nihon Superior Company Ltd.; Nordson EFD LLC; P. Kay Metal Inc.; Qualitek; Redring Solder (M) SDN; Senju Metal Industry; and Sigma Ming Gao Electronics.
For more information on the activities of the IPC SPVC, contact Tony Hilvers, IPC vice president of industry programs, at TonyHilvers@ipc.org.
IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global trade association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 2,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $1.7 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Garden Grove, Calif.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; and Shanghai and Shenzhen, China.