CEM completes lead-free investment

Contract electronics manufacturer Prism Electronics has invested over GBP 100,000 preparing its manufacturing operations to comply with new European legislation that comes into force this year.

Contract electronics manufacturer Prism Electronics has invested over GBP 100,000 preparing its manufacturing operations to comply with new European legislation that comes into force this year.

Ahead of its introduction in July 2006 the company is now capable of producing electronic assemblies that are lead-free.

The EU RoHS Directive restricts the use of specific materials, in particular lead, in most electronic products sold in Europe.

It will affect almost all companies that produce electrical and electronic equipment.

They will have to ensure that their products do not contain more than the levels of hazardous materials that are specified by the directive.

"Almost all producers of electrical and electronic equipment will have to comply with this new directive", said David Dickin, Business Development Manager at Prism.

"For many companies the transition to producing lead-free products will be a complex task and will need to be started well in advance of the deadline to ensure it is completed in time".

The directive has significant impact for the electronics industry because lead is used in many electronic components as well as in solder.

To meet the requirements of the legislation, the St Ives-based company has installed new equipment, introduced new systems and given staff specific training on lead-free manufacture.

It has also appointed a senior member of staff who is dedicated to assisting customers with their transitions to producing lead-free products.

He will help them to source and specify equivalent lead-free electronic components.

"Our experience of helping our customers with the transition from leaded to lead-free components has shown that there is often significantly more work than expected and that the process is never straight-forward", continued Dickin.

"With electronic component manufacturers at different stages of changeover to lead-free and some not directly replacing old products with new lead-free ones, converting a parts lists does not always mean a like-for-like swap".

"We have made significant investment to ensure that we give our customers as much time as possible".

"Because we are helping many of our customers with this process we have also accrued a lot of knowledge and experience about how best to manage the transitions".

"So that our customers can benefit from this we have also appointed a special project manager dedicated to helping customers with this".

The company has installed a second wave soldering machine that uses lead-free solder.

Surface mount reflow and hand soldering can also be carried out.

Prism has also installed a dedicated assembly area for lead-free production to eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination with products that contain lead.

Work procedures are also in place to prevent cross-contamination, for example, ensuring that different solder bits are used in soldering irons for lead containing and lead-free assembly work.

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