Legislation pushing for "environmentally friendly" products in the industry has become a reality in the last few years. Joe Stasiek, Contemporary Controls sales manager, believes the new European guidelines, RoHS and WEEE, are noteworthy developments.
"We are taking a proactive approach to achieving compliance by the required July 2006 date as stated by the European Union," says Stasiek. "We feel we must continue to support our customers in shipping product worldwide. In addition, we want to help keep the Earth ''green''."
The European Union requires member states to restrict their use of hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment. A second directive, WEEE, seeks the prevention of waste electrical and electronic equipment, and in addition, the reuse, recycling, and other forms of recovery of such wastes so as to reduce waste disposal.
Contemporary Controls and its other manufacturing sites (in Europe and in China) have developed plans for fully converting to a lead-free process. All new product development efforts will result in a lead-free product.
Customers will be encouraged to review the RoHS Compliant Product Roadmap posted on the company''s main website, www.ccontrols.com, to be assured that a product of interest is scheduled to be converted to lead-free.
"If not, we will make a recommendation on a possible substitution, if practical," says Stasiek. He adds that questions regarding a specific product should be directed to the sales department: "We will do whatever is possible to assist our customers during this transition period."