ERA Technology is busy helping companies understand the impact of the 'Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances' Directive, more commonly referred to as 'RoHS'. ERA is a leading world authority on RoHS and also assists the European Commission and DTI on the subject, providing guidance on implementation and exemptions.

By the 1st July 2006, all companies selling electrical and electronic equipment within the scope of the Directive will have to comply. This requires the removal of six materials, namely lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and the flame retardants PBDE and PBB, from non-exempt products. Any new products that fail to meet the RoHS requirements cannot be sold within the EU.

t By 1 July 2006, non-exempt electrical and electronic equipment sold within the EU must be RoHS compliant.

Although product sectors such as military and aerospace are not currently covered by the legislation, they may also be affected as the electronics industry moves towards RoHS compliance. For instance, obsolescence will increase as suppliers retire their non-compliant materials, components and assemblies.

To assist manufacturers and sub-contract suppliers, ERA is providing expert consultancy on the RoHS Directive, current product exemptions and uses of the banned substances. ERA's events, newsletters and technical publications also combine to provide clear, concise and impartial information to assist with compliance. Both the course 'Achieving Compliance with the RoHS Directive' and the complementary publication 'A Guide to Compliance with the RoHS Directive' are helping to alleviate some of the misunderstanding surrounding the Directive. ERA will also be holding its flagship annual conference "Designing and Recycling Electrical and Electronic Equipment" on 28-29 November 2006 at the Hilton Hotel, London Gatwick.

For more information about ERA's RoHS expertise, please visit www.era.co.uk/rfa.htm. Further details about ERA's Recycling Conference, the RoHS training course programme and RoHS Directive report are available from http://shop.era.co.uk

About ERA Technology
ERA Technology works at the leading edge of many advanced technologies. The business was founded in 1920 and today provides specialist, high value-added, technology-based services including design and development, testing, assessment and expert advice.

The company has built an international reputation for technical expertise through constant innovation at the leading edge of technology. ERA's services reduce technical and commercial risk, improve the operational performance of engineering infrastructure assets, and enhance the competitiveness of products and systems.

ERA Technology is a Cobham Group Company.