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Rabbit lead-free RoHS strategy

Rabbit Statement on Supplying Environmentally “RoHS/Green” Products

• In an effort to ensure worldwide compliance with environmental  standards, and also help maintain a cleaner world, Rabbit has made a commitment, and is already taking steps, to remove Lead and other hazardous substances from all electronic products that Rabbit produces. Rabbit is following guidelines from the following directives and mandates to steer our compliance efforts:
  
  • ROHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances). EU Directive 2002/95/EC requires that electronic products are Lead Free by July 1st, 2006
    
  • WEEE (Recycling and disposal mandates in Japan and Europe)
    
  • Increased activity in USA at state level (Prop 65 and SB20 in California)

Rabbit Lead Free/RoHS Strategy

• Rabbit Compliance Goal
  
  • The Rabbit Pb-free program is being implemented in accordance with European Union (EU) Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 Jan 2003 Legislation titled “Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS)” including banning the use of Pb in electronic assemblies after July 1, 2006
• Rabbit Compliance Goal
  
  • Also required to be eliminated are Cadmium, Hex Chrome, Mercury, PBB’s and PBDE’s. (Except item: The heavy metal Hg cannot exceed 5mg. per small fluorescent lamp; the lead in ceramic components has to conform to follow: max. in steels is 0.3%(weight), max. in aluminum is 0.4%(weight), max. in copper is 4%(weight)).
• Rabbit RoHS/Lead Free Compliance Team Established 12/03
  - Mission:
  
  • Identify and address RoHS/Lead-Free compliance issues throughout the Supply Chain
    
  • Implementation of RoHS/Lead-Free components and materials
    
  • Develop & implement RoHS/Lead-Free processes
    
  • Qualification of all new components/materials and processes
    
  • Position Rabbit to meet customer deadlines for RoHS/Lead-Free compliance
    
  • Move Top Selling Products to RoHS/Lead-Free Compliance
    
  • Re-work, Warranty and replacements of existing products
    
  • Educate and Train Rabbit and Customers in RoHS/Lead-Free

Steps to Identify & Become RoHS Compliant

• RoHS compliance have the following challenges and effects on manufacturing and assembly:
  
  • Traditional solder will be changed to Non-lead solder.
    
  • Traditional PCB electroplate will be changed to Non-lead electroplate (Silver, Gold or OSP)
    
  • Traditional electroplate components will be changed to Non-lead electroplate components.
    
  • Soldering processes must be modified to use new Lead –Free Solder
• RoHS compliance have the following challenges and effects on manufacturing and assembly:
  
  • The high temperatures required by Lead-Free solder affect the manufacturing process, components, reliability, Moisture Sensitive Device (MSD) levels and equipment.
    
  • Products & components must be marked to identify them as RoHS or Lead-Free compliant
    
  • Industry Quality acceptance standards will be revised
• Rabbit has identified the following necessary steps to move toward RoHS compliance:
  • Review current manufacturing and assembly processes and the affects of Lead-Free solder
    
  • Investigate, qualify, develop and implement proper manufacturing and assembly RoHS/Lead-Free processes and procedures
    
  • Qualify and select RoHS/Lead-Free compliant materials and suppliers
    
  • Investigate new SMT, Wave Solder and hand soldering equipment for manufacturing
• Rabbit has identified the following necessary steps to move toward RoHS compliance:
  • Identify, develop, educate/train, and implement new Quality acceptance processes and procedures
    
  • Develop methods and systems for identifying and managing RoHS/Lead-Free components and products
    
  • Product cost evaluation
    
  • Develop and implement recycling design principles
    
  • Develop and implement processes for converting existing product to RoHS/Lead Free compliance
    
  • Develop methods for “End of Life” (EOL) of products which can not be converted to RoHS/Lead-Free

Rabbit Strategy WEEE

• Rabbit Semiconductor is committed to supporting the European Union’s (EU) Waste on Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) requirements.
  • Rabbit Semiconductor is applying WEEE labels (the “Wheelie Bin”) to appropriate products beginning in October, 2005.
    
  • Registration for WEEE products is unique to each EU member country.  Rabbit Semiconductor will work with its European distribution network to register appropriate products.