Shortages of some non-RoHS compliant components that are being used in products exempt from the new rules on the use of lead and other hazardous materials are pushing up prices and extending lead times.
“Ironically there are a number of non-compliant products that have increased in value due to their obsolescence and the continued need in certain markets for this product,” said Greg Nicol, group purchasing director at distributor Abacus.
According to one manufacturer, it has already seen examples of component suppliers that have run down production of parts which contain lead despite there still be a legitimate demand in the market for non-compliant parts. “In the worse cases we have found stocks of some leaded parts running out, and product inevitably going on allocation,” said the purchasing manager for a U.K.-based CEM.
Although the bulk of the semiconductor market has shifted smoothly to no-leaded parts, there is also evidence that continuing demand for leaded components is being fuelled by some parts of the market which seems slow to switch designs to non-leaded components.
There is also a concern amongst some companies about the different levels of policing of the new RoHS rules in different European countries.
