Power-Win manufactures lead free Medical & ITE power supplies that meet RoHS standards.

RoHS is the name for a directive passed by member nations of the European Union (EU) that restricts the use of certain substances in production of electrical and electronic equipment. Defined as the Removal of Hazardous Substances, this directive (2002/95/EC) specifically restricts six substances – Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, PBB and PBDE. This directive is sometimes referred to as the EU "lead-free" legislation, but is in fact more far-reaching.

Member States shall ensure that, from 1 July 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market does not contain any of the six banned substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, poly-brominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), in quantities exceeding maximum concentration values.

Q&A

1. What does VIA change in its products to make them RoHS compliant?

Lead is the only material banned by in RoHS directive that VIA uses in the manufacturing and packaging of its silicon component products. VIA's RoHS-compliant products replace lead, where feasible, with a combination of Tin (Sn), Silver (Ag) and Copper (Cu).

Creation of high-reliability connections between chip and package substrates with a higher melting temperature, however, as allowed by the RoHS directive will contain >85% lead.

Other materials that VIA uses in the creation of its products, that contain impurities banned by the RoHS directive are used only if they meet levels, as defined by the directive.

2. What quality control measures do VIA have in place to ensure it measures banned materials correctly?

 VIA requires detailed material content analysis and third party certification (as proof of compliance) of materials claiming to be RoHS compliant.

3. Do RoHS compliant products sold by VIA still have a high standard of quality?

Yes. VIA maintains the same level of quality across its product range irrespective of RoHS compliance.

4. What soldering or reflow temperatures can VIA RoHS compliant products withstand?

VIA products can withstand reflow and soldering temperature of up to 260 degrees C.

5. Does VIA have substitutes for halogenated flame retardants used in packaging?

VIA Networking Technologies, Inc. packages do not use halogenated flame retardants. VIA is currently investigating alternatives for the BGA (Ball Grid Array) packaging used in the packaging of a small number of our products.

6. Is moisture sensitivity testing a part of the VIA qualification process of RoHS compliant assembly?

All VIA products undergo moisture sensitivity testing. This includes RoHS compliant products.