PROCESS
Click here for HiTek Power's Rapid Indicative RoHS Compliance Testing
Click here for HiTek Power's RoHS & WEEE Statement (in PDF format)
HiTek Power has undertaken a detailed study of both these Directives to assess our legal obligation. This is summarised in the document
"Due diligence process for WEEE and RoHS Directives".
Information concerning RoHS markings and WEEE information for treatment centres is provided in the document "
WEEE and RoHS information for treatment centres".
HiTek Power is committed to the implementation of the RoHS Directive with key objectives being:
- To comply with regulatory requirements.
- To meet customer expectations for the RoHS compliance status of our products.
- To develop products that have minimum environmental impact.
This overview provides a road map of our route to compliance and explains key points within the Directive with their implications for HiTek Power.
Key points of the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive
The aim of the RoHS Directive is to restrict the use of certain substances commonly used in electrical and electronic equipment. Studies have shown that these substances are harmful to the environment and in turn cause harmful effects to humans. Increasingly much electrical and electronic equipment has either a very short life cycle (new models frequently introduced rendering the replaced equipment with little or no value), or the purchase price has dropped so much that it is cheaper to replace a faulty item rather than have it repaired. Either way equipment is discarded into the household waste stream ending up in landfill sites leading to pollution of the ground water. A secondary effect is that significant quantities of material are disposed of rather than recycled, further depleting the earth's resources.
The RoHS Directive is a single market Directive which came into force on 1st July 2006. This means that it is implemented identically by each Member State - no Member State can amend it.
The RoHS Directive is part of a package of environmental directives. In particular the RoHS Directive complements the WEEE Directive. The WEEE Directive is concerned with the environmentally sound disposal of electrical and electronic equipment, encouraging reuse and recycling of equipment where possible.
The RoHS Directive restricts the use of the following substances:
- Lead
- Mercury
- Hexavalent Chromium
- Cadmium
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
Typically these substances are found in:
- Lead: coatings on components leadouts, PCB soldering points, in cable as a plasticiser
- Mercury: on contacts for switches
- Hexavalent Chromium: as a coating on metals for corrosion protection
- Cadmium: as a pigment for colouring
- PBB and PBDE: as a flame retardant in plastics.
The maximum permitted levels are:
i) 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials for all except Cadmium
ii) 0.01% by weight in homogeneous material for Cadmium
Homogeneous material - a material that cannot be mechanically disjointed into other materials. This means that components have to be split into component parts e.g. plastic package, leadouts, semiconductor material etc.
The RoHS Directive applies to products within the scope of the following categories:
- Large household goods
- Small household goods
- IT and telecoms equipment
- Consumer equipment
- Lighting equipment
- Electrical and electronic tools
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment
- Automatic dispensers
Medical equipment and control and monitoring equipment are currently exempt from the RoHS Directive, but included within the WEEE Directive. The European Commission is currently considering whether these two product categories should be included within the scope of the RoHS Directive.
There are exemptions detailed in the RoHS Directive - key ones that impact some of our customers being military equipment and large scale industrial tools. Although HiTek Power is working towards RoHS compliant product as the standard, many of our customers fall within the RoHS exemption category and have indicated that they have a strong preference for receiving the current non RoHS compliant product (they are change adverse as they consider it a risk to product performance continuity) for existing designs. Where this is the case HiTek Power shall of course respond and limit changes to their existing non RoHS products.
RoHS IMPLEMENTATION BY HITEK POWER
It is HiTek Power's intention to move towards RoHS compliance with timescales consistent with customer requirements and availability of components. We are currently able to accept orders for some RoHS compliant product with further unit RoHS approval being completed on an ongoing basis; we are of course working with our customers to ensure our RoHS product rollout program meets their requirements.
A team has been set up within HiTek Power, led by Engineering, but encompassing all functions within HiTek Power. Internal presentations have been given to key staff highlighting the importance of the RoHS Directive and how we propose to comply with it. Further presentations have also been given to all staff on a rolling program. New procedures have been introduced within the manufacturing process to identify RoHS compliant components, ensure new parts used are RoHS compliant and identify RoHS compliant material received at Goods Inwards.
New RoHS compliant processes and materials are being tested and approved on an ongoing basis, key areas of change such as lead-free soldering have (after an extensive selection process) been rigorously tested prior to approval.
Working in partnership with suppliers, HiTek Power is progressing well with ensuring its supply chain is on track for meeting its RoHS implementation plan.
Components are being assessed for RoHS compliance. Details of RoHS compliant components from major manufacturers are obtained from their websites. C of Cs will be requested from manufacturers. Manufacturers of specialist components are further required to provide information to support RoHS compliance. Companies providing process support are required to sign a Declaration stating that the materials used in the process are RoHS compliant. As part of the company's 'due diligence' RoHS process, HiTek Power has purchased a X-MET3000XTR XRF scanner, with key members of the compliance team now having successfully completed their training in the detailed spectral interpretation and operational setting of this instrument. With this XRF scanner, QC verification RoHS testing is now being carried out by HiTek Power to validate supplier RoHS compliance declarations and finished product RoHS status, ensuring that HiTek Power RoHS compliance declarations are backed by hard objective test data.
The XRF scanner is also used to ensure that the RoHS workstations do not get contaminated. Tools used in the RoHS workstations are checked weekly for (Lead) contamination. This has been found necessary because, as a result of our extensive audit on incoming materials, there have been occasions where material from suppliers marked as RoHS compliant has been found to be non-RoHS - the common causes being stock wrongly labelled, the use of Lead solder and supplier contamination problems.
Once approved, HiTek Power will sign a Declaration to confirm that products comply with the RoHS Directive.
A "RoHS compliance file" is created for each RoHS compliant product. This file gives evidence to support the RoHS Declaration. It includes Declarations from our suppliers stating that materials used in their processes are RoHS compliant, declarations from component manufacturers of specific components and generalised statements or data sheets from component manufacturers appearing on their websites. Where appropriate third party material declarations will be included. Data resulting from XRF testing carried out by HiTek Power is also included in product RoHS compliance files.
Products complying with the RoHS Directive will normally carry a label to indicate RoHS compliance, shown below. HiTek Power part numbers will not usually change.
Links for further information:
UK BERR websites:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/sustainability/weee/page30269.html
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/sustainability/rohs/page29048.html
These websites provide the latest information from the UK Government. Also included are copies of the RoHS and WEEE Directives along with copies of the UK draft guidance notes for the RoHS and WEEE Directives.
EU website:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm
PHOTOS
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1) XRF ANALYSER
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2) ANALYSING AN
UNPOPULATED PCB
DETAIL
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3) SAMPLE OF MAINS CABLE SPLIT
INTO CONSTITUENT PARTS PRIOR
TO TESTING
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TYPICAL RESULTS
A) CADMIUM IN YELLOW SILICONE SLEEVING
Method:
Sample:
06-Nov-07 2:
Additional info:
Duration: |
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plastic_fp
YELLOW SILICONE
41:07 PM
LARGER DIAMETER
57 |
Element
ppm
STD |
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Cd
5279
92 |
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Zn
306
6 |
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Cr
116
23 |
B) LEAD IN WIRE INSULATION
Method:
Sample:
24-Aug-07 12:
Additional info:
Duration: |
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plastic_fp
RED WIRE
02:07 PM
A1038459
52 |
Element
ppm
STD |
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Cl
395117
982949 |
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Pb
52691
176 |
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Sn
1566
75 |
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Cr
873
97 |
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Fe
838
51 |
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Sr
165
102 |
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Cu
22
17 |
Grades: pvc plastic
RAPID INDICATIVE RoHS COMPLIANCE XRF TESTING
HiTek Power offers a fast and competitively priced first pass screening RoHS test capability; where indicative RoHS compliance results can be obtained by one of our engineers using our X-MET3000XTR XRF Scanner. See
RoHS implementation by HiTek Power.
HiTek Power engineers can quickly test sample material/s, with the resulting data being analysed to assess its RoHS status (allowing for exemptions). Results are provided in the form of graphical spectral charts and log files, plus a verbal or (where requested) written overview of the test data provided.
With prior agreement XRF testing by HiTek Power personnel can be carried out:
- By the customer visiting the HiTek Power site
- By supplying material samples to HiTek Power by post
- By HiTek Power personnel carrying out a visit to your site.*
* Please note: Site visits may take slightly longer to arrange.
Should you require further information please contact:
Jeff Edwards, Director of Quality and Compliance