RoHS readiness survey makes alarming reading

Research reveals that only 12% of design engineers, buyers and MRO engineers are fully RoHS compliant in readiness for the 1st July 2006 deadline.

New research from Farnell InOne reveals that only 12% of design engineers, buyers and MRO engineers are fully RoHS compliant in readiness for the 1st July 2006 deadline.

Whereas 37% revealed that they are now "close to becoming compliant", a further 28% confessed that they have only just "started to become compliant".

Commenting on the findings, Gary Nevison, Head of Product Market Strategy, Europe and Asia Pacific at Farnell InOne, said: "It is clear that as the deadline rapidly approaches, the majority of design engineers are still not completely ready and are going to need a lot of support and hand holding in the run up to 1st July and beyond".

The research - which was conducted amongst 263 UK design engineers, buyers and MRO engineers - revealed that distributors are playing a vital role in providing this support to ensure compliancy is met in time.

46% of those surveyed had chosen to approach a distributor for reliable RoHS support, followed by 22% who preferred to directly approach the manufacturer.

Interestingly, only 9% have been relying on the Government for RoHS support and even fewer (8%) on environmental bodies.

Nevison comments: "The research confirmed what we had already suspected - that distributors are playing the number one role in making RoHS compliancy happen".

"Farnell InOne offers a comprehensive range of support services including certificates of compliance, up-to-date news on the legislation and bills of material (BoM) conversion, Farnell InOne's free RoHS conversion service".

"It is clearly essential that we continue to be there to offer such support - it doesn't just stop on the 1st July".

The research also revealed that although 53% considered online technical help and support services to be either "extremely" or "very important" that 39% also considered telephone technical help and support services to be "extremely/very important".

Nevison explains that this is a finding Farnell InOne finds significant in light of the increasing number of distributors who prefer to do all their business over the Internet.

He comments: "At Farnell InOne, we have found that whilst design engineers are comfortable with communicating over the Internet, many people still prefer human contact when trying to find the answer to a specific query".

"This is why, just like lots of the leading banks, we believe in offering our customers a choice of communication channels".

"This is going to be essential in ensuring that every customer - no matter his or her communication preference - will be able to find answers to all of their RoHS questions over the coming months".

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