Aug 26 2008 12:50PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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Arrow Electronics has announced its Arrowfest schedule, kicking off next week in Philadelphia.

The annual coast-to-coast technology exhibition for customers and suppliers in part of Melville, NY-based Arrow’s North American components business and is now in its 20th consecutive year. After Philadelphia, Arrowfest travel to a six other US locations and makes one stop in Canada this fall.

Each exhibition includes technical supplier seminars, hands-on demonstrations, and information on the latest products from manufacturers like ADI, TI, and NXP. Arrow estimated that more than 2,500 engineers, suppliers, OEMs, and other industry professionals attend Arrowfest each year.

The schedule is below. For more information on the events, visit www.arrowfest.com. Note, each city has a theme (Santa Clara attende...Read More

Aug 25 2008 10:09PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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There is currently a batteries directive in the European Union (EU), and there has been since March 1991. However, in many respects, the directive has failed. For example, in 2002 more than 45% of the batteries sold in the EU were still going to landfills or for incineration. A new focus was required and the New Batteries Directive, due to come into force on September 26, looks to provide this and will replace the original directive. 

Efficient recycling and comprehensive safety data and labelling are the aims of Directive 2006/66/EC and it applies to all batteries, whether re-chargeable or non re-chargeable. Security equipment or equipment that is intended for use in space, does not fall within its scope.

The new directive emphasizes the current restriction on mercury, as well as now effe...Read More

Aug 12 2008 12:00AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (8) |
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Recently, there have been signs of increased ROHS enforcement activity across the European Union.

In particular, and maybe not surprising, the Scandinavian ROHS authorities have been busy. Their investigations included visits to manufacturers, importers, and retailers across Denmark, Sweden, and Finland and resulted in 22 cases of non-compliance, one of which led to a prosecution.

Three cases of non-compliance were in Sweden from 60 products analyzed, six in Denmark from 29, and 13 in Finland from 63 investigated. The main causes for non-compliance included lead in plastic and lead in solder.

The prosecution involved a Swedish importer bringing in non-branded glue guns from China that contained lead in the plug casing above permitted concentration values. Authorities focused on short lifecycle products and small household appliances, as well as acting on &l...Read More

Jul 30 2008 8:22PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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Speak of the devil. Just a few days after we blog about the need for more REACH awareness, SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International), SESHA (Semiconductor Environmental, Health and Safety Association), ESIA (European Semiconductor Industry Association), and ISMI (International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative) announce a Webcast on the environmental regulation.

The 90-minute free Webcast, "Logistics of REACH Pre-Registration," will be run from the newly created ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday, August 11 at 8am pacific time. SEMI describes the Webcast’s target audience as “semiconductor industry members and suppliers concerned with regulatory compliance for substances produced in, or imported directly or indirectly, into...Read More

Jul 29 2008 11:35AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (6) |
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The IPC released some startling numbers this week, suggesting that the electronics supply chain is not ready for the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, despite the fact that it took effect on June 1, 2007.

The industry group conducted a survey on REACH preparedness in the North American and European interconnect industry and found that more than 40% of manufacturing and purchasing personnel have no understanding of the REACH regulation as it affects their companies. On top of that, the survey found that the same holds true for nearly one-third of senior management, 29% of engineering personnel, and 28% of environment, health and safety personnel.

Numbers as drastic as these are always shocking. How do you ignore REACH – an EU regulation that puts responsibility on the electronics supply chain to manage th...Read More