Hortec / Leadfree

With the Hortec RoadMap to Leadfree

The European Community has issued two new directives aimed at protecting, maintaining and improving the quality of the environment and safeguarding human health. The directives are the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). An important element of these directives is that certain hazardous substances may no longer be used in products that are sold on the European market. These substances include: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

Legislation

Both European directives are implemented in two decrees under the Environmental Act:

Management of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Decree (BEA Decree)
Management of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulation (BEA regulation)

For Hortec and its clients this means that, from the 1^st of July 2006, it will no longer be permitted to work with solder alloys that contain lead. Currently, electronic components are assembled using a lead-tin alloy. This lead-tin alloy is used not only in the solder but also in the component leads and the PCB finish.

RoadMap

As such, a different alloy must be chosen with the same, or preferably better, characteristics. It is likely that the industry (in Europe) will choose a tin/silver/copper alloy. What are the consequences for the price, quality, logistics and production processes? For this purpose, Hortec has drawn up a "Leadfree RoadMap". This serves as a guide for making an inventory of all the problem areas and outlines a time schedule, so that by the 1^st of July 2006 all your products will be leadfree.

Hortec B.V., Zutphenstraat 53, NL-7575 EJ Oldenzaal, tel +31 (0)541 531 775,