Lead-free production

Lead-free solder, lead-free components and lead-free circuit cards are all needed for lead-free electronics production. Lead-free soldering also requires a different process to conventional soldering, particularly in terms of the need for a higher temperature for remelting – around 230°C, which also means that the processing window is narrower in order to avoid stressing the components more than is necessary.

 

We have installed a VaporPhase soldering machine for vapour zone soldering, and since 2006 we have purchased lead-free components where possible. Lead-free components are kept separate in our MPS system.

Components which are not yet available in lead-free versions, but where a date for introducing a lead-free version has been announced, are also registered.

 

To a relatively large extent, component manufacturers have stopped manufacturing older components where lead-free versions have been introduced. This means that in some cases products have had to be redesigned in order to comply with the new requirements.

We have extensive stocks of lead-free components for aftermarket production (parts).

We can carry out pilot studies of the situation in terms of lead-free components for customers’ circuit cards and identify components in accordance with the following:

 

- Lead-free components currently available
- Lead-free components which will be available from a particular date
- Components where there has been no firm announcement from distributors/manufacturers
- Components for which lead-free versions will not be available

 

This provides excellent data for the customer to make a decision on how to proceed, e.g. redesign or phasing out the product.

 

The above process provides a snapshot of the current situation – the availability of lead-free components improves on a daily basis.