For more details of ROHS products,e-mail at: echocn@echo.com.hk

RoHS Directive and Standpoint of Echo

As stipulated in RoHS (Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances) concerning environment protection, from July 1st 2006, new electrical and electronic equipments put on the market should not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, Poly-brominated biphenyls (PBB) or Poly-brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). Only compliant products will be allowed for sale in EU.

To meet the requirement of RoHS, Echo has taken active measures for transition to the new lead-free technology, ensuring all products complying with RoHS and strengthening the leader in lead-free industry.

• RoHS Solution

1、Objective

Targeting to have most buzzers, alarms and the assembly procedure for OEM PCB available RoHS Compliant by the end of 2005.

2、Process

1) Information-collecting: collect standards for lead-free soldering,lead-free material, electronic components, PCB, solder as well as customer requirement for RoHS Compliant products, take part in seminars about RoHS Compliant technology.

2)Equipment evaluation:evaluate the current equipments and new ones for feasibilities of RoHS Compliant production as per parameters and new workmanship. 

3). Preparation: 

• Retrain staff about RoHS Compliant technology.
• Pay attention to our supplier’s response to RoHS Compliant production and compliant material supply, which is a key factor during transition production.
• Replace equipments: As per the result of evaluation, a new SMT Line, wave soldering line for PCB assembly and new hand soldering plan will be introduced.
• Site Layout: There will be a parallel manufacture (lead-containing and lead-free products) from initial lead-free manufacture to total compliant manufacture. So it is of great importance to identify the leaded production from lead-free production. We have made full preparations: stocks have been marked clearly, a workshop being available for lead-free production. Along with lead-free production making way further, previous lead-containing assembly lines will be converted into lead-free gradually. We have employed designators for lead-free procedure from material to finished product to prevent cross-contaminating non-compliant products.
• RoHS Compliant material Sourcing: the most crucial factor which affects the transition speed because material has a direct impact on lead-free production. In addition, it is another key factor to source RoHS Compliant part and to use up the current leaded stock as soon as possible.

4). Transition:

• During the middle and late phase of preparation, there will be a parallel manufacturing (leaded and lead-free productions at the same time). We have put forward a detailed Transition Schedule for your reference in which most products would be scheduled to be RoHS Compliant by the end of 2005.
• Analyze and find out solutions of problems encountered during trial RoHS Compliant production, accumulate experiences and provide top quality products.

5). Compliance

From January 2006, 90% of buzzers and alarms will be RoHS-compliant. From July 2006, leaded production will be eliminated in Echo.

• RoHS-compliant Indicators

Special marks or labels will be attached to inner&outer package of compliant products. RoHS-compliant products will be marked or attached with such an indicator aswhile Pb-free ones will attached or marked with.

FAQ

1、Who does WEEE DIRECTIVE affect?

Those involved in manufacturing, selling, distributing, recycling or treating electrical and electronic equipment.  This includes:

• household appliances
• IT and telecommunications equipment
• audiovisual and lighting equipment
• electrical and electronic tools
• toys, leisure and sports equipment
• medical devices and 
• automatic dispensers

(2) Who does RoHS affect?

Manufacturers, sellers, distributors and recylers of electrical and electronic equipment containing lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated  biphenyls or polybrominated diphenyl ethers.  This Directive covers the same scope as the Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) except for medical devices and monitoring and control instruments.  It also applies to electric light bulbs and light fittings in households. 

2、Is there any product exempt from RoHS in Echo?

Yes, the piezo is not covered by RoHS, Its lead concentration can be above 1000ppm.

3、What are the available lead-free solder alternatives to traditional SnPb?  There are several families of alloys commercially available as lead-free solders. 

Reflow Soldering: SnAgCu, SnAgCuBi, SnAgBi, SnZnBi, SnIn (the bismuth and indium-containing solders are more suitable for low temperature soldering)

Wave Soldering: SnAgCu, SnCu

Status of RoHS Compliance