John Wolz

Fastener manufacturers and distributors may think RoHS is a European issue now, but lot traceability on compliant fasteners may be important soon in North America.\
If the state of California adapts the European rules, other states could follow, warned panelists at the Western Association of Fastener Distributors conference on Restriction of Hazardous Substances.
In 2003 California passed the Electronic Waste Recycling Act, which would eventually prohibit selling electronic products containing lead in California. Officials are currently crafting formal rules to implement the act. January 1, 2007, has been listed as a possible date for compliance.
“Fasteners on your shelf could become hard to sell,” distributor Andy Cohn of Duncan Bolt pointed out.
“Hang on to your certs,” Brian Lowry of Curtis Metal Finishing advised attendees at the conference in conjunction with the National Industrial Fastener Show/East. “It is all about protecting yourself.”
Start tracking RoHS compliant fasteners now. “If we don”t have it clearly in our records we won”t be able to sell,” Cohn warned, “Manufacturers assume that all the product they make will be consumed immediately. Distributors often hold parts for years. Today your customer may not care but in four years will you be able to look back at your old stock and know whether it is RoHS compliant? Having a plan and checking material will save lots of trouble later.”
“Be appropriately afraid of your customers,” Cohn advised. “They want to assume you are taking care of ths but it is the customer who must drive it.”

Automakers” worldwide standards are already changing for new models, making RoHS a global issue. Automakers are working together on standards so “they don”t go off in different directions,” Lowry noted.
Jim Riley of Stork Materials Testing & Inspection advised the industry to “indicate “non compliance” on the paperwork to cover yourself ” in case a customer comes back asking.
Riley observed that the directive “doesn”t tell you how to test for these” but labs have developed a lower cost $75 “qualitative rather than quantitative” test checking for presence of hexavalent chromium.
Lowry noted that financial and prison penalties for RoHS violations could “go all the way up to the CEO.”

The End-of-Life Vehicles [ELVs], Waste electrical & Electronic Equipment [WEEE] and RoHS based on environmental efforts in the European Union to separate waste prior to disposal and safeguard public health, Lowry explained. Europe hopes to “motivate producers to re-use, recycle or recover products at the end of their useful life” and manufacture products with environmentally friendly materials.
ELVs generate 8 to 9 million tons of waste annually in the EU.
Hazardous materials on the EU Directive”s list include lead, mercury, cadmium and Cr+6, or hex chrome.

“It is hard to calculate the cost of compliance,” Lowry acknowledged. The good news is that the cost of new finishes will come down as alternatives are developed, Lowry predicted.
” Lowry noted that the military and heavy trucks are exempt from the rules.
” ELV allows for unavoidable trace levels of heavy metals when not intentionally introduced.
” Watch for future limits. “Nickel is next,” Lowry forecast.
” “There are more questions than answers in the Directive which is a mere four pages,” Riley pointed out.
Irwin Tanzman of Bossard Michigan Merrick recalled a customer retroactively asking for test results for an order of six million fasteners. The customer”s attitude was that the fastener supplier should be “smart enough” to distribute only compliant fasteners, Tanzman recalled. After spending $250 to have the lot tested and finding it compliant a potential problem was averted. “Would you want to go to court with this guy?” Tanzman asked in urging the industry to be cautious on selling noncompliant fasteners.

Editor”s Note: For additional information on RoHS see articles in the January 5, 2006, FIN article, “BAFD Recommends RoHS Labeling; Offers Logos”; and December 7, 2005, “Lowry: “Lots of “Grey Area” on RoHS.” �2006 FastenerNews.com