RoHS - LEAD-FREE

Lead-Free soldering has become a requirement for many of our customers products, and we have proven processes to build products to RoHS standards.

What is RoHS?

The Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment 2002/95/EC commonly referred to as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) was adopted in February 2003 by the European Union and took effect on 1 July 2006.

Prohibited Substances:

• Lead
• Mercury
• Cadmium
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+)
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)

PCB Fabrication requirements:

Plating finishes: Lead-free HASL, Immersion tin or silver, nickel/gold and others are available to meet the RoHS requirements. Please contact us to discuss options for your PCB design.
PCB Laminate requirements: Lead Free solder requires higher processing temperatures and as such most lead-free PCB's require higher temperature laminates. These typically would have met the following minimum specifications: 340 deg. TD, 170 Tg, for example Isola IS 410, or Polyclad 370HR.

Assembly process: "-LF" designator on documentation, green visual designation in manufacturing for all tools, and documentation etc. Our equipment is lead-free capable including our BTU Pyramax oven, and Jade Robotic thru-hole selective soldering system. Lead-free SAC-305 alloys are used for machine and hand soldering.

RoHS -Lead Free capabilities

• RoHS Lead-Free Rigid or Flexible Circuit Assembly
• RoHS Lead-Free SMT - Surface Mount Assembly
• RoHS Lead-Free Thru-Hole Automated Selective Soldering
• RoHS Lead-Free Hand Soldering
• RoHS Lead-Free Rework
• RoHS Lead-Free Printed Circuit Boards and Components
• RoHS Lead-Free Turnkey Bill of Materials Analysis

Inspection: Due to the composition of lead-free solder, solder joints may appear grainy when compared to a standard leaded solder joint, or give the impression of a cold solder joint. Our technicians and inspectors are trained to current IPC-A-610 standards that include lead-free soldering, to ensure that all solder joints meet the current standard and are of the highest quality.