MONTE CARLO -- Dell today made a series of announcements concerning its continuing environmental efforts. The company stated that it exceeded a 2004 product recovery goal and outlined aggressive environment goals for the current year. The company is also refreshing its corporate desktop line and making an advance toward the RoHS directive.

Dell exceeded product recovery goals set for its last fiscal year and announced expanded global environmental goals for recycling, environmental design and energy efficiency, including a 50% product recovery increase. The goals and progress on environment and social initiatives are available at www.dell.com/environment.

Last year, the company committed to increase product recovery from customers by 50% (as measured by weight recovered). Strong growth of ARS in the U.S. helped the company recover more than 24 million pounds of used product from customers, a 234% increase over fiscal year 2004 results.  Worldwide, Dell recovered nearly 66 million pounds of product during the period. Dell remains committed to increasing product recovery rates, as reflected by its goal of another 50% product recovery increase during 2006. 

The company’s OptiPlex GX520 and GX620 desktop systems introduced today also take steps toward compliance with the RoHS directive by featuring lead-free power supplies, motherboards and chassis. 

The systems also give customers flexibility to deploy systems based on specific needs. Customers can choose from seven chassis between the two products, including mini-tower, desktop, small and ultra-small form factors that offer expandability options. The systems share a single software image across all chassis. The small form factor chassis can be installed behind an flat-panel monitor for an all-in-one, “zero-footprint” system.

In addition to the standard limited warranty that accompanies each system, Custom Factory Integration (CFI), Deployment Services and Asset Recovery Services (ARS) help increase the value of the technology purchase.

As systems are being built, Dell’s build-to-order process enables customized image management to occur in the factory environment. Through CFI, Dell can load customer-defined images, software, asset information and integrate hardware components as part of manufacturing. Once set up, Dell can replicate the CFI process one system at a time or thousands at a time.

Customers can benefit from having a Dell technician install their new systems. Dell installation services range from simple system set-up to complex deployments that coordinate roll-outs to multiple sites and meet tight customer deadlines.  

ARS take the hassle out of retiring old computer equipment. ARS will recycle the system responsibly or when feasible, recondition and offer its market value to the customer if resold.

MORTON, IL -- Preco Electronics Inc. has completed the sale of its manufacturing operation to Vansco Electronics, a Canadian EMS firm.

The Preco plant designs and manufactures electronics systems and components for heavy equipment.

The acquisiton gives Winnipeg, Canada-based Vansco a U.S. footprint, and the company is looking for more acquisitons of electronic controls makers. 

WOODSTOCK, GA -- Ron Daniels, former editor and publisher of Circuits Assembly, died Sunday at home. He was 56.

At the time of his death, he was editor of Circuitnet, an online news service, and principal consultant at ITM Consulting.

DES PLAINES, IL, June 6 — Kester will host its next lead-free seminar on June 21in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Kester Project 2005: Achieving Lead-Free RoHS Assembly was created to offer proven, practical information in reference to lead-free assembly and RoHS compliancy.

The seminar does not concentrate on specific consumer applications; it will present the various complexities of assemblies and what your company needs to do to comply with the WEEE and RoHS Directives.

The series will address lead-free assembly issues and give technical information to transition in a timely fashion while maintaining reliability and production yields. It addresses the new standards that will assist a company towards a smooth transition.

Presentation and discussion will cover the following topics: lead-free and RoHS directive overview; supply changes and procurement issues; board/component requirements; lead-free alloy selection for SMT, wave and rework; lead-free wave and SMT process optimization; impact of dual systems; BGA rework practices; hand soldering process changes; lead-free RoHS reliability; field rework and training; and training and documentation.

For more information, visit kester.com.