HDP User Group International Publishes Halogen-Free Guideline for Electronics Products

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) November 12, 2008

The High Density Packaging User Group International, Inc. (HDP User Group), a global non-profit cooperative research and development organization for the Electronics Manufacturing industries, announced the publication of the “Halogen-Free Guideline”, a first of a kind document that was developed over a 15 month period by 25 contributing companies across the electronics supply chain. The Guideline is available for download at http://www.hdpug.org.

“In order for the electronics industry to continue its long-standing commitment to product stewardship, companies throughout the supply chain will need to understand which “halogen-free” alternatives are available, as well as the electrical, mechanical and environmental, health and safety properties of these alternatives,” said Scott O’Connell (Dell Inc), Project Lead for the HDP User Group Halogen-Free Initiative. “The publication of the HDP User Group Halogen-Free Guideline will help address this knowledge gap to enable companies to make more informed decisions with respect to material substitution.”

“The Halogen- Free Guideline is the latest, and one of the best, in a series of guidelines created by the membership. This work continues the organization’s mission of providing the members and the industry the data and information they need to make informed business decisions” said Marshall Andrews, Executive Director of the HDP User Group. “Because it was written by many different companies representing the electronics manufacturing supply chain, the Guideline presents a complete up-to-date and unbiased view of the status, issues, and availability of halogen-free products and materials.”

Since 2001, the HDP User Group has been at the forefront of evaluating halogen-free materials within the electronics industry. In 2007, HDP User Group initiated the Halogen-free Properties Project aimed at assembling a comprehensive Halogen-Free Guideline and Halogen-free Materials Database. The Halogen-Free Guideline is now complete and the Halogen-free Materials Database project is in progress. The Database will serve as a centralized, searchable tool allowing suppliers to list their “halogen-free” product offerings and the properties of those offerings in a uniform, concise format that is easily accessible to product designers. Increased access to this information will enhance supply chain adoption of “halogen-free” components. It is anticipated that the Halogen-Free Materials Database will be online by mid-2009.

About the HDP User Group International Inc.

HDP User Group (http://www.hdpug.org) is a global research and development organization based in Scottsdale AZ, dedicated to “reducing the costs and risks for the Electronics Manufacturing industry when using advanced electronic packaging and assembly”. This international industry led group organizes and conducts R&D programs to address the technical issues facing the industry, including design, printed circuit board manufacturing, electronics assembly, and environmental compliance. HDP User Group maintains additional offices in Austin, Texas; Stockholm, Sweden; and Tokyo, Japan.

For more information, visit HDP User Group on the Internet at http://www.hdpug.org

or contact Darryl Reiner at darrylr @ hdpug.org, phone number +1 480-951-1963.

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