Brainboxes has announced the company is now supplying RoHS-ready products. RoHS-ready versions of the company’s BL-565 CompactFlash Bluetooth card and UC-235 serial card are already in volume production, and Brainboxes has announced availability of a full range of RoHS-ready Bluetooth and serial card products.

The move by Brainboxes puts the company at the forefront of compliance with the RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances) European directive to reduce the use of certain substances, such as lead, in electronics products sold after 1 July 2006. When selecting their preferred suppliers for 2006, purchasing departments are making their selections based on manufacturers’ RoHS readiness. In some countries, such as Japan, similar legislation has been in place for some time, meaning UK manufacturers who export to these countries must ensure they are RoHS ready now. RoHS will affect each and every electronics manufacturer directly or indirectly, regardless of geographical location or the equipment they produce and thus Brainboxes was keen to ensure the company is ready in advance of the deadline.

Brainboxes identified at an early stage the importance of rapid compliance to RoHS guidelines and established a project team to actively manage the transition. The initial step in the process was to use the company’s close relationships with suppliers to ensure early access to RoHS compliant components for all of its Bluetooth and serial products. In addition, the project team worked to ensure that Brainboxes’ manufacturing process met all RoHS requirements well in advance of the deadline.

Rather than simply rely on supplier declarations of RoHS compliance, Brainboxes has sent completed products to an external test house for X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) testing on components, using the Fischerscope X-ray system XDAL. This technique is capable of determining percentages of different elements present in the products and is accurate to 0.1% by weight.

As part of its drive to improve its manufacturing, in 2005 Brainboxes also committed to Six Sigma, the enterprise-wide business strategy that promotes excellence in business practice by improving processes to reduce waste and costs. The company, which also celebrated its 21st birthday in 2005, was named Manufacturer of the Year at the Elektra European Electronics Industry Awards. Throughout its history, Brainboxes has consistently taken the steps necessary to remain competitive in an industry where outsourcing production to the Far East is increasingly commonplace.

About Brainboxes
Established in 1984, Brainboxes is one of the leading PC communication card developers and manufacturers in the World. Headquartered in Liverpool, UK, it has a team of highly qualified software and hardware designers, matched by a world-class volume manufacturing facility.

The company develops and owns all of its own core technologies, including USB, CompactFlash, PCMCIA, RS232 and PCI products. It is at the forefront of developments in serial card and wireless technology. Current customers include IBM, Fujitsu, Reuters, Motorola, Agilent, and BT.