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Contemporary Controls’ Suzhou Facility Announces RoHS Compliant Manufacturing

  • January 30, 2006
  • Contemporary Controls
  • News

Summary

Downers Grove, IL (January 30, 2006) – Contemporary Controls’ manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China has transitioned to lead-free operation as specified by the European Union’s RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive on chemical substances.Contemporary Controls (Suzhou) Co. Ltd (CCC) has eliminated the use of lead in their equipment, well before the time the directive goes into effect in July 1, 2006. Plant Manager Basile Waite says significant changes in materials and processes were accomplished to offer products and solutions to meet their customers’ requirements.”The steps taken during this period ensured that the quality our customers have come to known wasn’t lost in the process,” says Waite. “Our manufacturing personnel received skilled training on all new equipment and procedures.” The process began with the plant’s identification, labeling, and segregation of both leaded and unleaded components. The Surface Mount Technology (SMT) line conversion involved adjusting the stencil printer and adjusting reflow profiles for lead-free solder paste for every product. Waite says that in order to serve their customers better and quicker, flexible assembly systems were purchased. “The assembly line is brand new and is ideal for our needs,” he says. “It is 10 m in length, double-sided and features a conveyor belt down the middle. For our Plated Through Hole (PTH) line, we added entry and exit conveyors as well as changed out the solder pot. These new assembly systems will allow us to make a batch of 100 or 1000 without having to change any of the set up on the machines.” Solder wave conversion included refitting pumps and changing solder pot to titanium pot with Tin Silver Copper (SAC) alloy solder. All rework stations were refitted for lead-free production. Waite adds that China is soon to release its own legislation similar to RoHS, and the plant will make any necessary changes to be compliant. For now, any questions regarding a particular product should be directed to Contemporary Controls’ headquarters located in Downers Grove, Illinois, USA. Individuals may contact their sales department. They are also encouraged to review the company’s RoHS Compliant Product Roadmap (www.ccontrols.com/pdf/rohs2.pdf) to be ensured that a product of interest is scheduled to be converted to lead free. If not, the company will make a recommendation on a possible substitution if practical. Suzhou’s 16,000 sq. ft. facility is located in SND (Suzhou New District). SND is situated at the center of the Yangtze River Delta, the fastest-growing economy in China. SND has been guiding the way for technological innovation. With China’s demand for automation equipment, CCC manufactures Industrial Ethernet, ARCNET and CAN/DeviceNet products. Learn More

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