RoHS-Conformity
tw-elektric is offering you PCBs that correspond to the requirements of the RoHS-guideline 2002/95/EG and the EG-guideline 2003/11/EG. A requirement for therefore is that the PCB is ordered in a lead-free version (e.g. chemical Tin, Chemical Silver, Chemical Nickel/Gold, HAL lead-free) The complete Fr4-basic materials processed at tw-elektric as well as all lacquers are made for lead-free application - Guaranteed!
Definition RoHS
The token RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment) denotes summarizingly the EG-guideline 2002/95/EG for the forbiddance of specified substances at the manufacturing and processing of electrical and electronic equipment as well as the respective execution into national law.
The aim is in course of the massive increase of disposable electronic products to ban extremely problematic components from those products. This includes among other things to enforce the lead-free soldering of electronic components, to prohibit toxic flame-retarding ingredients within the production of cables and to support the introduction of appropriate substitutes. Furthermore the used units and components themselves have to be free from those specific substances.
This has a direct effect on involved companies like importers, sole traders (also small hardware companies) or stores and trade chains and therefore as a last consequence also on the consumer.
Legal regulations
The EU-guideline has been passed on January 27th 2003. Until the end of 2004 the execution into national law within the EU-countries should have been finished. The situation in the particular countries is different.
On the 16th of march 2005 the German „Elektro- und Elektrogeätegesetz“ became effective which executed the RoHS as well as the EU-directive WEEE (Reduction and disposal of electronic scrap) into German law. The transitional period for the affected manufacturers and industries ran until the 1st of July 2006. In Austria the execution of the RoHS and the WEEE is regulated in the „Elektrogeräteverordnung“ which became valid on the 30th of April 2005.
Also Switzerland follows with the decree of the ChemRRV (Chemical-risk-reduction-regulation). In countries like the USA or Japan those decrees are being discussed, execute or even valid.
