Green roadmap for power modules

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Dec 9, 2002

Ericsson Power Modules has reconfirmed its commitment to leadership in environment-friendly manufacturing.

Ericsson Power Modules was the first company to launch a lead-free DC/DC power module.

Now it has reconfirmed its commitment to leadership in environment-friendly manufacturing by announcing the company's goals for 2002 and beyond.

The company, which makes DC/DC power modules in Sweden, the USA and China, has offered lead-free products for several years.

Last year it launched the PKD series of products: the world's first lead-free power convertors suitable for customers' lead-free assembly processes.

Ericsson Power Modules expects the whole Macrodens PKF family of lead-free DC/DC power modules, of which over 25 million have been sold worldwide, to also comply with the requirements of these processes by the end of 2003.

Ericsson Power Modules participates in Ericsson's company-wide environmental management system (EMS).

With an eventual goal of achieving lead-free production for all products, the goals for the current year are that 80% of new products will use lead-free solder and be based on printed circuit boards where halogenated flame retardants have been eliminated.

In addition, Ericsson has committed to remove beryllium oxide from all new products except travelling wave tubes, from this year.

Commenting on the EMS, Ericsson Power Modules President, Hakan Osterberg, said: "We are totally committed to supporting our customers' lead-free processes and will drive this programme forward without waiting for legislation to make any changes mandatory.

The launch of the PKD lead-free DC/DC power module last year was just one step and we are now focused on expanding the availability of lead-free devices while ensuring that product reliability and performance is not compromised in any way".

He added: "Our EMS is not just about benefiting the environment by minimising pollution, it is also about the efficient use of materials and energy during our production processes.

An environment-friendly production line is also a cost-efficient one".