Royal Philips Electronics has announced that the conversion to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliant/lead-free semiconductor products has been completed well ahead of European legislation mandating the manufacture of such electronic products by 1 July 2006 under European Commission Directive 2002/95/EC.
In July 2001, Philips Semiconductors teamed up with STMicroelectronics and Infineon Technologies to develop a proposed standard for defining 'lead-free' and to develop proposed standards related to these products through assessment of factors such as solderability, reliability of alternative materials and characterization of the moisture sensitivity level. As a result the company is now leading the industry by having RoHS/lead-free compliant products available ahead of the legislation.
"We completed our manufacturing conversion a few months ago and have since been working to clear the supply chain of lead products so we can assure supply of only RoHS/lead-free compliant products from our distribution centers," said Frans Scheper, senior vice president, Philips Semiconductors. "We will continue to use the same part numbers to enable a smooth transition for our customers. We have provided compatible devices, far ahead of time, for our customers to test and prepare for the legislation coming into effect. Philips is committed to delivering quality products that meet customer requirements and contribute to a cleaner, greener environment."