News
BANNOCKBURN, IL — IPC is taking issue with the inclusion of the flame retardant chemical known as Tetrabromobisphenol A on a draft list of substances that could be added to the EU RoHS Directive, firing off a letter requesting the EU commissioners "reconsider" its potential ban.
The trade group had previously made its case to the Öko-Institut, which was charged with drafting the list.
TBBPA, a a reactive flame retardant used in most printed circuit board laminates, has been reported to be included among five substances for priority assessment and potential inclusion in RoHS by media who claimed to have seen the proposal. It is reportedly used in more than two-thirds of electrical and electronics appliances.
Citing the strong body of technical evidence, IPC claims TBBPA is not a risk and should not be included in future RoHS documents. "TBBPA has already undergone a comprehensive EU Risk Assessment and, therefore, is not expected to be subject to authorization under REACH,” IPC said in the letter. "The recommendation for priority review of TBBPA under RoHS seemingly undermines the EU’s emerging chemicals policy and law under REACH. We urge the commission to reconsider the inclusion of TBBPA in its list of ‘priority review’ substances under RoHS.”
Following interagency review of the proposal, the EU Commission will present the proposed RoHS Revision to the European Parliament.
To see the IPC letter, click here.
The trade group had previously made its case to the Öko-Institut, which was charged with drafting the list.
TBBPA, a a reactive flame retardant used in most printed circuit board laminates, has been reported to be included among five substances for priority assessment and potential inclusion in RoHS by media who claimed to have seen the proposal. It is reportedly used in more than two-thirds of electrical and electronics appliances.
Citing the strong body of technical evidence, IPC claims TBBPA is not a risk and should not be included in future RoHS documents. "TBBPA has already undergone a comprehensive EU Risk Assessment and, therefore, is not expected to be subject to authorization under REACH,” IPC said in the letter. "The recommendation for priority review of TBBPA under RoHS seemingly undermines the EU’s emerging chemicals policy and law under REACH. We urge the commission to reconsider the inclusion of TBBPA in its list of ‘priority review’ substances under RoHS.”
Following interagency review of the proposal, the EU Commission will present the proposed RoHS Revision to the European Parliament.
To see the IPC letter, click here.
SALO, FINLAND -- Salcomp, a top ODM of cellphone charges, has named Jari Saarinen chief financial officer, effective Jan. 25, 2009. Saarinen previously was CFO of Solifer Group, and has worked for Kone Corp. and MacGregor Group, and was CFO and CEO at Biotie Therapies Corp.
Also, Salcomp promoted Pekka Kyyriäinen to vice president, global operations, superseding Osmo Oja, who is retiring. He was general manager of Salcomp's plant in China since 2006.
Salcomp employs more than 10,000 workers and has 2007 revenues of $356 million.
Also, Salcomp promoted Pekka Kyyriäinen to vice president, global operations, superseding Osmo Oja, who is retiring. He was general manager of Salcomp's plant in China since 2006.
Salcomp employs more than 10,000 workers and has 2007 revenues of $356 million.
SAN JOSE -- Flextronics has reportedly laid off about 70 workers in Taiwan and additional cuts are possible, according to a local newspaper report.
The Apply Daily, citing company sources, said most
of laid off workers are from the company's notebook and server operations.
CORINTH, MI – Ayrshire Electronics has acquired ACT Electronics' facility here for an undisclosed amount.
In doing so, Ayrshire saved the largest EMS factory in the US – some 350,000 sq. ft. – and the jobs of about 200 full-time workers and 50 more part-timers.
In a statement, the office of Gov. Haley Barbour said, "Ayrshire Electronics ... is expected to keep 200-plus workers on the job under the umbrella of a new corporate structure and new management effective as early as (today)."
Last month ACT put the plant, formerly owned by ITT, up for sale.
Ayrshire operates five plants in the Midwest and Mexico.
BREST, FRANCE – Jabil Circuit will close, sell or otherwise restructure its plant here, a local paper reported this week.
Ouest France is reporting the site’s revenues are 25% below expectations. The plant employs about 300 workers, down from 515 a year ago, when Alcatel-Lucent reportedly moved production from the site to a Solectron (now Flextronics) plant in China.
Jabil acquired the site and its then 700 employees from Alcatel in 2002.
STOCKHOLM – NOTE today reported September sales of $50.7 million, up 2.2% over a year ago. Operating profits were $1.8 million, down 50%. Net profits were down 59% to $980,000.
The operating margin of 3.6% is down 50% from last year. The EMS company took $1.2 million in restructuring charges for the quarter.
Through September, NOTE had nine-month sales of $164 million and a net profit of $7.3 million. Year-to-date operating profits were $5.6 million. To date, the EMS provider has taken $3.8 million in charges for ongoing restructuring. Profit after items, but before taxes, was $9.8 million, down more than 50% year-over-year. Operating margins are 3.4%, down from 6.5% last year.
NOTE is transferring labor-intensive production and sourcing services to lower-labor rate countries, and cutting its headcount in Sweden by 200 staff, or just over 25%.
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