The European Union (EU) has passed legislation forbidding the sale of new products in Europe containing certain heavy metals and certain Brominated flame retardants after July 2006. Magnecraft & Struthers- Dunn has a plan in place to be compliant with the RoHS and WEE directives in time to meet the July 2006 deadline. In order to account for stock in inventory, we plan to be manufacturing and shipping compliant parts by July 2005. We are on track to that plan.
The objective of the Plan is the elimination, or reduction to acceptable levels of: Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, PBB and PBDE flame retardants.
We are in the first stage of that plan which involves identifying the non compliant materials used in each of our products. We are process of conducting a supplier review to identify all of the products and components that contain the restricted substances. We have identified and tested preferred lead free solder to be usedby our supplier, compliant chromate coating and acceptable cadmium free contact materials. A thorough qualification is being performed on each compliant part to ensure that performance specifications and agency approvals are not jeopardized. Once qualified, compliant parts, and the individual packages will be identified with our symbol.
Separate stock locations will be established for compliant and non compliant parts. Catalog Part Numbers will not change, however internal part numbers are being created to track the separate inventories and to allow entry of orders for compliant parts while non compliant parts are also in stock. The compliant parts will be exact replacements for noncompliant parts. When the inventory of noncompliant parts is depleted the inventory will not be replenished and all further requirements will be filled with compliant parts. Non compliant parts will no longer be available when stock is depleted.
All products are part of the plan to be compliant except Mercury Displacement Relays which cannot be converted to compliant materials. Products which are controlled by Military or Government requirements will not be converted to compliant materials.
I will make periodic announcements as specific product families become compliant. If you require more specific information at any time do not hesitate to contact me or the responsible product manager.
Joseph Zintel
Director, Engineering and Product Management
