Tait is making good progress towards achieving RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste in Electrical & Electronic Equipment) environmental compliance within the required deadlines.

Background

The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste in Electrical & Electronic Equipment) Directives are part of a series of EU environmental measures. The directives are closely linked and will be implemented within a similar timeframe

 

A key difference between the two directives is the way they will be introduced. RoHS is a Single Market Directive, which means its provisions must be implemented uniformly in all EU member states, whereas, WEEE is not a Single Market Directive ie it establishes minimum recycling criteria that member states may exceed, if they wish.

 

TAIT Electronics (Tait)

Tait's objective is to ensure that the products and services it supplies are fit for purpose, and are of the highest quality and reliability.

In keeping with this, Tait has a structured work program in place to re-qualify its design elements to meet the requirements of the WEEE and RoHS European Directives. An extension of this work is obtaining MTBF (Mean-Time-Between-Failures) data from field trials.

 

WEEE - Directive 20002/96/EC

Article 10 para 3 - Labelling.

Commencing in June 2005 Tait will ensure labelling on Tait products is "WEEE" compliant prior to the deadline of 13 August 2005.

 

RoHS - Directive 2002/95/EC

Mercury
No Tait products, to date, have been found to contain Mercury.

Cadmium
With the exception of Nickel Cadmium battery applications no Tait products, to date, have been found to contain Cadmium.

Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI)
This material is widely used in the industry for the surface treatment of steel and aluminium. Tait is actively working with industry groups and suppliers to assess, qualify and implement alternatives.

Surface treatment solutions, used by Tait for steel and aluminium surfaces, will be cut over in order to meet the EU Directives stated dates.

Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)
To date none have been identified in Tait products.

Lead
The major application for lead is in raw material components and soldering of electronic components.

Taits raw material components are substantially compliant, more alternatives are becoming available, we expect to be fully compliant in order to meet the EU Directives stated dates.

The re-design of lead-free surface mount soldering systems is completed. Tait is now engaged in field trails for reliability testing prior to full release.

Tait manufacturing systems for; portables, mobiles and associated accessories will be progressively cut-over to "Lead-free" in order to meet the EU Directives stated dates.

16/06/2005