To Our Customers
Aries Electronics, Inc. is committed to RoHS compliance and will make every effort to assist our customers by making available as much information as possible. This information will continue to change as additional data becomes available.
The Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives are aimed at reducing the hazardous materials content in electronic products as well as increasing the recycling efforts for these products and take effect July 1, 2006. RoHS specifically bans or restricts the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDE).
Cadmium, Mercury, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyls & Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers
To the best of our knowledge and belief Aries Electronics, Inc products do not contain cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as either intentionally added ingredients or as unintended impurities in concentrations exceeding EU regulatory limits. This statement is based upon information provided by our raw material suppliers. Please be advised that Aries Electronics, Inc. does not analyze its products for substances not purposely added. Trace amounts of any chemical and substance might be found as impurities in any product, therefore Aries Electronics, Inc. assumes no liability in connection with this information. Aries Electronics, Inc. does not use these substances in production processes.
Lead
Nearly all contact and pin materials are RoHS-compliant, although some may contain small quantities of lead within the 4.0% by weight exemption allowed by the RoHS directive. The Au and matte Sn plating used on Aries Electronics, Inc contacts and pins are RoHS-compliant. Products that are Au and matte Sn plated can withstand the elevated temperatures and long dwell times required for lead-free reflow.
Changeover Status
Aries Electronics, Inc. has a broad product offering, however we are targeting a complete changeover of parts that are planned for RoHS compliance by as early as September 1, 2005 and plan to be operationally compliant on or before the July, 2006 deadline. Due to the uncertain timetable for the availability of RoHS-compliant components, we are unable to specify firm release dates for the RoHS-compliant products. Once RoHS-compliant parts are available, the “Product Data Sheet” section on our website will be updated with the corresponding information. The bottom right hand corner of the data sheet will contain a Lead Free/RoHS-compliant symbol indicating that the products on that specific data sheet are now available as RoHS-compliant.
As we make the transition, we will be using up our existing inventory of raw material and then replacing these components with RoHS-compliant substitutes. There will be NO change in part number for the RoHS-compliant part. New part numbers will be made available for customers still requiring lead.
If you require lead (Pb) for your application, please contact us immediately for a special part number and ordering requirements. It is important to note that the matte Sn plating chosen is both forward compatible with lead free solders and as well as backward compatible with solders containing lead. This meaning that Aries contacts/pins with a matte Sn finish can be attached to a PCB using Sn/Pb solder paste with a Sn/Pb solder profile.
Product Labeling
Since there will be no change in part number for RoHS-compliant parts, products that are provided as RoHS-compliant will contain a label identifying them as such.
Product Line Conversion Details
Sockets/Connectors
The plastic insulator materials currently used by Aries Electronics, Inc. are RoHS-compliant, although not all will withstand the elevated temperatures used in lead-free reflow soldering processes. We are in the process of converting to a UL 94V-0 4/6 nylon material which will withstand the 260°C peak reflow temperature. Regarding the pins and contacts, we are in the process of converting our existing Sn/Pb plating to matte Sn. A compliant Au plating option is also available on some of our products (Ref: Product Data Sheet for details).
Correct-A-Chip®
Correct-A-Chip® (CAC) products are not RoHS-compliant at this time, and are not intended to be converted as standard practice. If you are interested in an RoHS-compliant version, our sales department will be happy to work with you in determining feasibility, special part numbers, pricing, and ordering requirements.
Cable Assemblies
Cable assemblies are in the process of being converted to RoHS compliance. We are working with our cable suppliers in obtaining components (wire, insulation, jacket compounds, etc.) that meet the requirements of the RoHS/WEEE directives. As with other products, once the specific cable family is converted, the corresponding product data sheet will be revised. Refer to the specific cable “product data sheet” for additional details.
Customer Service and Support
Aries Electronics, Inc. has offered both lead and lead-free product configurations for a number of years. We will continue to support customers requiring products not compliant with the EU Directives, such as those specified with lead for military, aerospace, and specialty applications. We realize that since we cannot specify firm release dates on the conversion to RoHS-compliant parts, there may be issues with order placement and availability and lead times. Please specify the “RoHS-compliant” requirement in your Purchase Order or when speaking with our Customer Service/Sales personnel and we will work with you in providing you with the most accurate date available.
With regard to pricing, we do not anticipate any major changes in pricing for products being converted. However, if a quote is required for a part number that is on a data sheet that is not converted (does not contain the lead-free/RoHS-compliant symbol), an increase in price may be necessary. As always, we reserve the right to change pricing at any time. We at Aries Electronics, Inc appreciate your business and are committed to working with you in meeting the RoHS compliance deadline. If assistance is required in determining RoHS compliancy or if you have any additional questions regarding an Aries Electronics, Inc. product, please contact us at +1-215-781-9956, extension #122.
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