iNEMI HFR-Free Leadership Program Launches with 22 Companies Participating

The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) has announced the official launch of its HFR (halogenated flame retardant)-Free Leadership Program. As an umbrella for several projects, program activities will provide a technical evaluation of key electrical and mechanical properties of "HFR-free" (or "low halogen") materials to ensure reliability and performance of replacement materials. Projects will also assess technology readiness and supply chain capabilities.

iNEMI member companies participating in this effort include OEMS like Cisco, Dell, Delphi Corporation, HP, Huawei, Lenovo; and EMS/ODM such as Celestica, Flextronics, Foxconn and Quanta Computer. Suppliers include Intel Corporation, Elec & Eltek (E&E), Ibiden, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation and Rohm & Haas (Dow Chemical Company).

"iNEMI OEM members account for 40 percent of the PC shipments worldwide, and these companies are all working to remove halogenated flame retardants from their products,” said Robert Pfahl, Vice President of Global Operations for iNEMI. "However, this kind of conversion must be implemented throughout the supply chain and requires coordination among companies. There are two key aspects to be addressed for widescale conversion. The first is to use a scientific approach to identify replacement materials that provide the same or better performance and reliability with reduced environmental impact. The second is to build industry consensus on these solutions to ensure a standardized approach throughout the supply chain. The iNEMI program is focused on activities in support of both of these areas, and the companies participating in these efforts represent the full spectrum of the supply chain, which gives us a much greater chance for success.”

The initial projects organized under the HFR-Free Leadership Program are the HFR-Free PCB Materials Project and the HFR-Free Signal Integrity Project. While the initial sign-up period for these two projects is now closed, it is still possible for additional firms to participate by petitioning the founding members. A related project—the PVC Alternatives Project—is currently in development. It will evaluate alternatives to PVC (including additives) in electronic cable and wire applications using a lifecycle assessment (LCA) approach.

For additional information, go to http://www.inemi.org/cms/projects/ese/HFR-Free_Leadership.html

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