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Services by business type: OEM suppliers

As a supplier to OEMs is responsible for ensuring compliance of your products with European RoHS rules, and many OEMs now require a letter of compliance to this effect from any vendor wanting to remain a supplier.  You are of course also responsible for ensuring compliance with the new OSHA Cr⁶⁺ PEL.  If any of your processes or materials either contain chromates or produce Cr⁶⁺ fumes, the OSHA rules will apply, while if any Cr⁶⁺ (or the other restricted materials) remain on the products, the RoHS rules apply as well.

The rules affect suppliers of standard items such as fasteners and electrical connectors as well as vendors of specialized products and services.  Over the coming year OEMs will be increasingly looking for suppliers who can either meet the rules immediately, or do so with the minimum of time and supply disruption.  And in many cases they will be looking for suppliers able to provide products coated with some of the new processes that are taking over from chrome plate, chromates and cadmium.

Given the widespread confusion over the RoHS rules and the lack of approved test methods, figuring out whether your products really are RoHS-compliant is not always a simple matter.  In some cases it may even be necessary to measure the chemistry of bulk materials and surface coatings to ensure compliance (although with no approved test methods, testing can only be used to provide assurance that the product is well within the limits, or show it to be clearly non-compliant).

Where the products you currently supply are non-compliant, alternative processes and materials will be needed.  With the large number of alternatives on the market, and the even larger number of materials that are raising concern in Europe and elsewhere, one must also consider whether the alternative chosen will be banned tomorrow.  This is an opportunity, not just to meet the rules, but to produce a superior product (e.g. by using HVOF in place of hard chrome, by changing materials, or by combining compliant surface treatments to improve corrosion resistance), while your competitors are only able to supply a “just barely good enough” product. 

With our broad knowledge of materials and coatings we can provide assistance in all these areas:

• Review and audit your materials and processes to ensure compliance with both RoHS and the OSHA standards

• Identify the best and most cost-effective alternative processes and materials to meet US and European rules

• Carry out cost benefit analysis of alternatives to help you convince your customers of the value of technologies that may cost more up-front but will pay back in reduced cost in service

• Assist with qualifying new technologies bringing them rapidly into production

• Assist with developing specifications for alternative materials and processes

• Provide training to the workforce to ensure a smooth transition.

Commercial Services

• Meeting the OSHA Cr6+ PEL

• Meeting the European Rules

• Services by Business Type

  • OEMs

  • OEM Suppliers

  • Material & Chemical Suppliers

  • Metal Finishers

  • Overhaul & Repair

  • Alternative Techs.

• Market Analysis

Government Services