Apr 04, 2003 Sanmina-SCI Corporation (Nasdaq NM: SANM), a leading global electronics contract manufacturer, is solidifying its reputation for advanced technology leadership and superior quality by proactively developing lead free processes and implementing its RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) program in all facilities worldwide. In addition, the company has also undertaken a leadership initiative in educating and bringing its suppliers into alignment with its environmentally friendly programs.
"We are actively working with our customers and suppliers to assure that they are in accordance with the European environmental regulations which go into effect in 2006 and in advance of other North American or global environmental initiatives," said Khalid Ruhullah, Vice President of Worldwide Environmental Affairs. "By working together, providing our suppliers and customers guidelines, we're creating quality products and a quality environmental future as well."
Sanmina-SCI's Printed Circuit Board Division has for some time now been studying the effects of lead free processing on printed circuit board materials and reliability. Specific Halide-free materials are now in the final stages of compliance testing and certain customers are in Beta testing of their products utilizing these Totally Green printed circuit boards.
"We have developed an extensive database of compatible laminate materials, surface finishes, and processes," said George Dudnikov, Senior Vice President and CTO of the Printed Circuit Board Division. "We have also contributed lead free compatible printed circuit board samples to several industry consortia in support of their studies."
Together with the Printed Circuit Board Division, Sanmina-SCI's EMS Division has also been proactive in evaluating solder alloys, assembly processes and board-level reliability over the past three years. As a result, lead-free board assemblies are now in production in three countries and the technology roll-out to its other EMS plants will be completed by year-end 2003.
"We have been able to focus a great deal of attention on eliminating lead and will soon offer RoHS-compliant design and engineering solutions, while continuing to meet and exceed our customers' quality and performance expectations," said Eamon O'Keeffe, Senior Manager, EMS Technology Development. The impact to solder joint strength and reliability has been thoroughly examined for different permutations of printed circuit board surface finish, solder alloy, and component finish. Technical papers are available for distribution to Sanmina-SCI's customer base.
The Sanmina-SCI RoHS program has targeted materials slated to be banned under European Parliament Directive 2002/95/EC including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the company's printed circuit board fabrication, printed circuit board assembly, cables, system-level assembly, and end-of-life management services. In addition to internal programs, Sanmina-SCI is involved with various industry and customer focused lead-free consortia initiatives, including the National Electronics Manufacturers Initiative (NEMI), to encourage and facilitate the open exchange of ideas and technology that will address the needs of our global environment.
Sanmina-SCI Corporation is a leading electronics contract manufacturer serving the fastest-growing segments of the $125 billion global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) market. Recognized as a technology leader, Sanmina-SCI provides end-to-end manufacturing solutions, delivering unsurpassed quality and support to large OEMs primarily in the communications, defense and aerospace, industrial and medical instrumentation, and computer technology and multimedia sectors of the market. Sanmina-SCI has facilities strategically located in key regions throughout the world.
