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Years of fragmentation and lack of co-ordination in the European lead-free soldering research community have come to an end with the launch of a major new initiative to tackle a key objective in creating an environmental friendly electronics industry.
Partially funded by the European Commission, Elfnet (European Lead-Free Soldering Network) aims to enable electronics industry producers in the EU to engage with the research community, optimise solutions and meet the EU deadline of introducing lead-free soldering in consumer products by July 2006.
Elfnet is a network of national research organisations, technical experts and industry bodies, first brought together more than four years ago.
The group gathered in response to alarm in the research community at the lack of funding and poor co-ordination in European research in the face of the challenge from the EU RoHS Directive, banning the use of leaded solder in many electronic products.
The 3-year project has EU funding of Eur 2.3 million as a Co-ordination Action under the Sixth Framework Programme and commits the energy and resources of a core membership of 35 founder members.
In the first 6 months of operation, Elfnet has already quadrupled its initial membership, now networking over 160 researchers from 110 organisations in 25 countries.
Activities included the initiation of an operational action plan, towards specific objectives in measuring and guiding lead-free soldering technology progress and its uptake by industry.
Important communications have already taken place, including sector-based events, to boost and expand the momentum towards lead-free electronics in Europe by July 2006.
Elfnet is now inviting all European researchers with experience in lead-free soldering technology to sign up via the project website, free of charge, to become Affiliate Members.
This will give access to the work of the project and a unique opportunity to co-ordinate with peers across Europe.
Others are welcome to join as Subscribers.
"This is a new, exciting opportunity for researchers from all over Europe to begin to work together", comments Dr Jeremy Pearce, Elfnet Co-ordinator at Soldertec Global in the UK.
"The expertise is there, the challenge is there - now we can finally make it happen".
Elfnet has assembled the co-ordinators of all major lead-free research projects, research representatives in 19 countries and leading industry players in major electronic sectors to form a platform to co-ordinate, integrate and optimise Europe's research effort.
It will use advanced communication tools alongside traditional meetings and reports to find and collate existing projects, identify and prioritise key technical and business issues in lead-free soldering technology, and seek solutions towards a common goal.
At the same time the network will provide the electronics industry with connections to people and resources for lead-free solutions, enabling them to face a lead-free future beyond 2006.
As well as 19 national networks, Elfnet will operate five technical expert groups in solders, components, assembly, reliability and recycling and four industry networks in consumer, automotive/industrial, IT/telecomms and aerospace/defence.
The infrastructure will also be used to carry out status research, measuring implementation of lead-free soldering technology across Europe.
In an ambitious move, the network has launched a new type of website, specifically designed for online networking.
News, events, research projects, documents and links can all be uploaded from member's desktops, to be shared with the growing virtual community.
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