Franklin, As you know, legislation will demand lead-free in Europe summer 2006. Not many companies here are in lead-free production yet, but will be starting quite soon. Our survey shows a lot of people looking to qualify and first build in the first two quarters next year. Japanese companies already have some significant lead-free production, most consumer products I believe. A recent presentation by Senju at the SMART Group 6th Annual Lead-Free Seminar showed the Japanese timetables; for example, Sony, Hitachi and Canon will be lead-free in all their factories (globally) next month. Matsushita (Panasonic), Fujitsu, and JVC already are, apparently. The USA will inevitably follow, in my opinion. Not necessarily because of legislation, but because of market pressures. The Japanese move to lead-free seems market driven because, whilst they have some recycling laws, they only suggests a lead-free timetable, not mandate one. Therefore the driver is getting your product on the shelves with a "lead-free" logo on it, letting the consumer believe you are more environmentally friendly. Even in Europe, whilst there is legislation (penalties include 2 years jail (or "gaol" as we call it), product bans and unlimited fines), the market will be the driver, because, frankly, who will actually police this... except your competition? And yes, we all pretty much know that banning lead from electronics assembly will do more environmental harm than good; but it is inevitable. Peter -- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Peter Swanson Oxfordshire, England Dynamix Technology Ltd IPC Standards, Guidelines & Videos - Electronics Manufacturing Bookshop [log in to unmask] http://www.dynamixtechnology.com ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -----Original Message----- From: Franklin D Asbell [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 17 February 2004 17:30 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Another view of lead-free I'm curious where are this "lead-free" activity is occuring? Looking at our orders over the past 5 years or so I do not see a significant decline in orders for HASL...containing 40% lead... we've installed immersion tin, working on immersion gold, have already got electrolytic gold, we have immersion silver, Entek, etc etc but we still receive a steady stream of orders for the good 'ol 60/40 coating...should I expect some trickle-down soon? I'm just curious is all... Franklin --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 -----------------------------------------------------