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Welcome to the January 2018 Design Chain Associates E-mail Newsletter! Happy New Year from DCA!
In addition to DCA's newsletters, keep an eye on DCA's bi-monthly articles in TTI's MarketEYE Resource Center.
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Speaking to a couple of the target "Notified Bodies" over the past few weeks, both told me that ESMA effectively "dropped the ball" driving the certification process of notified bodies. So nothing happened. I contacted ESMA recently and was told that "the formalities of notification are being formalized", yet they say they have already issued over 100 certificates of compliance by managing it internally and 300 applications are currently in the pipeline.
Contact me to learn how to move forward.
I've been in touch with Brazil's Ministry of Environment regarding a questionnaire they had published late last month (apparently closed on Jan. 15) regarding the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
My rationale for contacting them was to help them avoid the mistakes made by other regulators (e.g. UAE) intending to address the electronics industry for the first time by going far beyond where others had already gone. Fortunately I was glad to hear that their intent is to stay as close to EU RoHS as they can.
We'll try to keep on top of this. But it's just another indicator that regulators worldwide are demanding that electronics manufacturers be more aware of the substances used in their products.
ChemicalWatch will hold its Asia-focused AsiaHub Summit USA in San Francisco next month! The conference will cover a broad review of chemical regulations throughout the Far East, as well as a bit around RoHS-like regulations in China and Taiwan. I'll be speaking as well about supply chain control. If you've read my last couple newsletters you will have a preview of my talk! Let me know if you will be attending!
For the past two years I have co-chaired the semiconductor and electronics session at the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute's Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference. The 2018 GC&E Conference will take place in Portland, Oregon and we - me and my colleague Leo Kenny of Planet Singular, who co-chaired with me last year as well - want more participation! And now the Call for Abstracts is open!
I reiterate: this year we are looking for examples of green chemistry and/or engineering implemented in the electronics supply chain, as well as identification and discussion of "grand challenges" the industry faces related to chemicals used in manufacturing processes and products. For example, I think the use of flammable electrically insulating polymers in potentially high energy density locations is a clear "grand challenge" that calls for serious and significant chemistry and material innovation. Tell me what you would like to talk about!
We already have lined up some great and compelling presentations by major semiconductor and system manufacturers! If you can't present, put aside the time (and budget) to attend - the conference itself provides exceptional opportunities to learn about green chemistry in a variety of industries and applications, as well as network with luminaries and peers in the field. And did I mention that it's in Portland, OR?
December 19, 2017 TTI MarketEYE: Greenpeace Greens it Up in Latest Re-launch Guide. We cover Greenpeace's return to focusing on the electronics industry, after a 5 year hiatus, with their Guide to Greener Electronics 2017; Regulation of Short-Chained Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs); testing as a lousy solution to RoHS compliance; and a pointer to my LinkedIn story of Samsung selling illegal product in the USA.
December 3, 2017 LinkedIn: What is Wrong At Samsung (and Element)?. Why are Samsung and Element selling televisions in the United States that contain an illegal chemical flame retardant substance?
February 26-27, 2018: San Francisco, CA. ChemicalWatch's AsiaHub Summit USA. Mike will present two case studies of compliance failures, one of which had tremendous consequences for the industry and makes the other a "canary in the coal mine".
June 18-20, 2018: Portland, OR. ACS Green Chemistry & Engineereing Conference. Mike co-chairs a session on the electronics industry.
More to come! Stay tuned.
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Best Regards,
Michael Kirschner