Since year 2000 Ericsson Power Modules' has applied a design for environment (DfE) policy in all product development projects, including removal of hazardous substances according to the RoHS directive and a continuous development of designs and solutions for lower power consumption and lowest possible total cost of ownership for the end-user. This include restriction of hazardous substances, with special focus on lead-free components, lead-free manufacturing processes, halogen-free printed circuit boards and components and products that meet the requirements in customers lead-free manufacturing processes. Products and processes also comply with Ericsson lists of banned and restricted substances, which include the six restricted substances in the RoHS directive but also an extensive list of other substances that are either banned, restricted or under observation due to environmental regulations or concerns.

The RoHS directive requires that, from July 1st 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) put on the market does not contain more than the permitted levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). The directive apply to the final end-user products e.g. IT and telecommunications equipment, that fall within the scope of the directive. From a legal point of view, components and sub-assemblies, e.g. DC/DC power modules, are not covered by the directive but are required by the equipment manufacturers to meet the requirements in the RoHS directive. DC-DC power modules meet the requirements if the concentration values of hazardous substances do not exceed 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB and PBDE and 0.01% by weight in homogeneous materials for cadmium.

Ericsson Power Modules' products are compatible with the relevant clauses and requirements in the RoHS directive. Products intended for surface mount assembly will also comply with high-temperature lead-free reflow soldering processes according to IPC/JEDEC J STD 020C and products intended for through-hole mount assembly will comply with lead-free wave soldering or manual soldering processes.

Efficiency and energy consumption are two of the most important environmental factors in the end-user equipment. In recent years the industry has learned that energy consumption in the operation of Information and Communication Technology equipment is the most critical factor relating to environmental impact and total cost of ownership. Ericsson Power Modules' DfE policy drives the design and development of high efficient DC/DC power modules that will decrease the energy consumption of the end-user equipment resulting in lower environmental impact and life cycle cost. This does not only affect the energy bill but also the design, dimensioning and cost of other parts of the complete installation, such as cooling fans and air conditioning, heat sinks, real estate requirements, power supplies and battery back-up capacity, etc. Higher efficiency in the DC/DC power modules will contribute to lower total cost of ownership for the end-user and a more resource efficient society.

Please contact Your local Ericsson Power Modules sales office should You require a statement of compliance (SoC), Materials declarations or further information on high efficiency and RoHS compatible DC/DC power modules. You may also find additional material in the right menu.