Hazardous materials directive stumps far-eastern manufacturers

The EU's Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive will ban from the Union any electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants from 1 July 2006.

We learned that since some companies moved to RoHS-compliant production they've had some issues with unusual returns. It seems that some capacitors have been falling out of graphics cards snd motherboards, as if deprived of the right amount of lead in the solder.

Our sources would prefer not to be named.

Maybe it's all about the transition time as the fabs are getting used to the new RoHS processes. It could sure cost the manufacturers a few bob if they fail to sort it out in good time.

Every RMA (Return Merchandise Authorisation) costs a company a lot of money, eating into their profits on relatively low-margin gear. They prefer to make money, not look after the wellness of our kids. µ