ROHS enforcement getting more forceful

Ron, The DDR memory devices are predominantly RoHS 6/6 compliant..how is this getting addressed? Is the telecom industry using a mixed SMT process to handle these exceptions? -Kiran

It's interesting that the telecom industry is specifically instructing suppliers to continue with lead solder. In the last update from AT&T "Equipment submitted for approval for use within any AT&T networks shall not be RoHS 6/6 compliant. Specifically, tin lead solder shall be used for circuit board assembly per Telcordia Notice to the Industry, November 2006, Reliability Concerns with the Use of Lead (Pb) Free Solder in Telecommunications Products."

Gary, For the telecom industry, still lead exemptions in Solder are applicable..what is the roadmap for this? The next review will be in 2010 and most telecom companies use this lead exemption in solders. Kiran M.R. Component Engineering Manager Bangalore, India

thank you for this information, Gary. It's hard to find elsewhere.

In response to QA aerospace The issues of manufacturability and reliability with lead-free solders are complex, particularly with RF circuits. This isn't to say though that production using lead-free solders is not possible. Some commercial RF telecommunications equipment is made with lead-free solders because it is in scope of RoHS and there has not been any outcry from these manufacturers that they cannot use lead-free or that it is unreliable although these products have been in use for only a relatively short period of time. Military applications are somewhat different, reliability is very important and at present, there is still some uncertainty over long term field reliability. Lead-free solders are too new for 15 years of field data unlike tin/lead. One of the main concerns with lead-free solders is the susceptibility to high G-forces, particularly what happens if the equipment is dropped or subjected to intense vibration. Research shows that under extreme vibration conditions, lead-free is inferior to tin/lead and so either cannot be used or additional measures are needed to avoid damage. Most RF telecom products do not see high G-forces but military equipment may do.

In response to the first point I am afraid that your source / "grandfather" clause is not correct.RoHS does not relate to design, or model number etc. All equipment, within the 8 product categories, put on the market on, or after, July 1st 2006 fall within the scope of RoHS. Equipment put on the market before that date can however, be upgraded or repaired using non compliant components.

As a supplier of synthesizers, converters, and receivers for both Defense and Commercial markets in the RF industry up to 26 GHz, it's not practical for us to support ROHS. ROHS processes for RF performance is a big question mark - especially in terms of reliability and Ruggedized performance from COTS products. (There's a reason why our defense customers specify non-ROHS). Even a simple power supply built from ROHS process is not as durable as Tin/Lead solder. Since high end electronics are controlled, why should they be subject to ROHS requirements? It's the consumer throw-away items that need the regulation.

Can you advise on "grandfather" clause. We were told that if the design hasn't changed, you are allowed to continue with the product until a new design or new version of the product is made.