Electronics Weekly Electronics Design & Components Tech News
The Scottish Advanced Manufacturing Centre (SAMC) has said firms should address the issue of PCB redesign immediately to avoid a last minute rush on design resource.
“On the design side there is a significant danger that there will not be sufficient resource in the UK to meet this upsurge of demand for PCB and product redesign,” said Doug Houliston, manager of the ED Technology Support Centre at SAMC.
According to Houliston, design houses can expect an upsurge of demand to meet the need to design-out components, which will not be available in lead-free form. There will also be the requirement for component footprints to be modified.
The situation has been complicated by a lack of basic knowledge of the requirements of the RoHS Directive in some firms.
“PCB designers and suppliers are already in dialogue on this issue with their clients, and are receiving requests for quotations for redesign work. However, these are usually accompanied by questions such as: ‘How will it affect me?’ and ‘Will we be an exception?’,” said Houliston.
As a result, design houses are having to meet the needs of firms which need to comply as well as offering different services for firms whose products are exempt from the Directive.
SAMC, a partnership between West Lothian College and Napier University, facilitated by Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh, provides training and information services to industry.
