Cornet Technology, Inc., based in Springfield, Va., says that its corporate-wide environmental protection plan is compliant with the European Union's (EU) Directive on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic products and is also compliant with California's recently enacted RoHS legislation.
To meet RoHS requirements, the company upgraded its surface mount assembly line to implement a lead-free process at its Springfield, Va. manufacturing facility. The enhanced process includes replacing the lead components on circuit boards with new, eco-friendly, lead-free parts. In addition, CTI upgraded its equipment to include a new solder paste printer, which allows very precise printing of the lead-free paste while a new reflow oven, with the capability of reaching the extremely high temperatures necessary for soldering lead-free surface mount components, was also added. This upgrade also allows CTI design engineers to create compact boards that require less space, while still delivering product enhancements.
"Cornet Technology made a conscious business decision to become RoHS compliant because the company recognizes that adopting green manufacturing techniques is not only environmentally responsible, but also beneficial to our employees. Even though RoHS regulations have yet to take hold in Va. Cornet Technology is proactively working to minimize the impact of our manufacturing facility on the local environment of Northern Va. -- and our employees -- by voluntarily incorporating the EU and California RoHS directives," said Wally Schott, director of operations for Cornet Technology.
The EU implemented the RoHS Directive in July 2006, with compliance regarding the use of unleaded solder in telecommunications products targeted for 2010. California, the first state to apply these standards, adopted similar legislation in January 2007.
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