RoHS Compliance Solutions for PCB Assembly from MEC

MEC, a leading provider of PCB Design and PCB Assembly services, has undertaken steps necessary for RoHS compliance. The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive stipulates that electrical and electronic products destined for sale in Europe must be free of six hazardous substances by July 1, 2006. The six substances identified by RoHS are Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Hexavalent Chromium, PBBs, and PBDEs.

With the compliance deadline of July 1, 2006 already passed, companies that manufacture, rebrand, or import electrical or electronic equipment destined for Europe must take action immediately to review existing products and new product designs to bring them into compliance with RoHS requirements. Although the burden of RoHS compliance lies with the producer, the RoHS initiative affects the entire supply chain. Suppliers will play a key role in supporting your efforts to achieve compliance for all products by July 1, 2006.

MEC is strongly committed to supporting your efforts to comply with RoHS. As a leading provider of PCB Design and PCB Assembly services, we pride ourselves on delivering printed circuit board solutions that add significant value to your products. Today, those solutions include the answers you require to achieve RoHS compliance as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

Getting the Lead Out

The use of lead-based solder in the assembly of printed circuit boards (PCBs) will not be permitted under RoHS. To prepare for this change, we have invested significant resources to identify and evaluate alternative RoHS-compliant solder materials, purchase and install new production equipment, and implement systems and processes necessary to document your compliance. Today, we are pleased to report that we have…

• Completed evaluation of lead-free solders – including pilot testing – which enables us to provide knowledgeable recommendations and implement effective and reliable compliant solutions for your PCBs
• Implemented a new part number system to support your product record-keeping and documentation requirements of PCB Assembly
• Implemented a RoHS assembly label to clearly identify that PCBs comply with the directive
• Ordered new wave solder equipment which has been operating since January of 2006. This equipment will help ensure the ongoing high quality of PCB Assembly as we transition to the use of new materials and also provide the capacity and productivity required to meet the demand for compliant PCBs as the RoHS deadline draws near.
  

Total RoHS Compliance Support

Compliance with RoHS is complex and calls for comprehensive, thoroughly documented, and cost-effective PCB Assembly solutions. MEC is prepared to provide PCB support services tailored to meet your requirements. Depending on your needs, we can…

• Audit the Bills of Material that accompany PCB components to verify RoHS compliance – it’s a turnkey way for you to confirm total PCB compliance
• Provide knowledgeable, cost-effective replacement recommendations for any components that do not meet RoHS requirements, saving you the time-consuming burden of researching and evaluating alternatives yourself
• Develop an overall compliance action plan to get your product ready to meet RoHS

Your ability to become RoHS-compliant depends on the quality of support available to you. MEC has the knowledge and resources to provide the total support you need. For additional information about the RoHS Directive and MEC PCB Assembly compliance solutions, ask your MEC representative or contact us at the numbers listed below below.

MEC Innovation
5855 North Glen Park Road
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53209
414-228-5000 TEL
414-228-5001 FAX
www.MECInnovation.com

MEC Midwest/MEC Innovation Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tel (414) 228-5000 Toll-free (877) 632 4863

MEC Northwest Canby, Oregon Tel (503) 263-7300

MEC Southwest Tecate, Mexico Tel (619) 446-6350

Screaming Circuits Canby, Oregon Tel (866) 784-5887

sales@meccompanies.com

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