IPC and Intel Announce a Symposium on Halogen-Free Technology

IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced it will partner with Intel Corporation to produce a symposium on halogen-free technology, January 15–16, 2008, in Scottsdale, Ariz, USA.

The main goals of the symposium are to share halogen-free technology, provide a forum to discuss potential halogen-free concerns and identify opportunities to address them, and begin the process of industry alignment on halogen-free materials.

Mostafa Aghazadeh, Intel Vice President and Director of Chandler Assembly Technology Development explained “this symposium complements Intel’s effort to eliminate halogenated fire retardants from our product packaging as part of a broader strategy to support an environmentally sustainable future.”

Aghazadeh is scheduled to present the keynote address on Tuesday, and FY Lee, Vice President of Nan Ya Materials Division, will provide the keynote on Wednesday. Topics covered at the symposium will include OEM’s environmental positions and roadmaps; supply chain readiness and challenges including material availability, cost and reliability.

Key original equipment manufacturers (OEM), original design manufacturers (ODM), electronics manufacturing services (EMS) companies, PCB manufacturers and material suppliers have agreed to participate in the symposium including Intel Corporation, Dell Inc., HP, Apple, EPA, Nan Ya and Lenovo.

“There is much debate about halogen-free –- from the impact on electronic materials to supply chain readiness to even its very definition. I am confident this symposium will help to answer at least some of the questions on halogen-free implementation,” said Fern Abrams, IPC director of government relations and environmental policy.

Abrams explained that the symposium could not have come at a better time. IPC is currently developing a standard, IPC J-STD-709, Definition of Maximum Limits of Bromine and Chlorine Used in Materials for Low Halogen Electronic Components and Assemblies. She believes the symposium will help expose the draft standard to a wider audience, securing greater participation in its development.

For more information on the IPC and Intel Halogen-free Symposium, visit www.ipc.org or contact Fern Abrams at fernabrams@ipc.org

www.ipc.org