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BRUSSELS – Comments are being sought from companies whose designs would either be rendered impracticable with RoHS-free substances or where the negative environmental and consumer safety impacts caused by switching would outweigh the benefits.

While the ROHS Directive 2002/95/EC bans lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB and PBDE, the annex to the Directive lists a limited number of applications which are exempted. However, under pressure from industry, the European Commission is accepting input on requests for possible additional exemptions.



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ALAMEDA, CA -- Meeting RoHS requirements requires a one-time investment of 2% to 3% of cost of goods sold, a top research firm said today. The firm released its findings to counter what it called "false information and speculation" about the cost of compliance.

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Tempe, AZ – The manufacturing sector grew for the 27th straight month in August, although high energy prices raise concerns for future growth. New orders and production slipped from July but remained strong, according to the latest Institute for Supply Management (ism.ws) poll.

ISM chairman Norbert Ore said, “[T]he PMI still indicates significant economic growth in both manufacturing and the overall economy. Comments from supply managers indicate great concern over recent new highs in the energy commodities. Many express concerns as to whether current business strength can be sustained if high energy prices persist.”

For the month the PMI measure of economic activity fell 3.0 points sequentially, to 53.6%. New orders dropped 4.2 points to 56.4%, while production fell 4.4 points to 55.9%.

Backlogs grew slightly, up 1.5 points to 50.5. Manufacturers shaved internal inventories, but customer stock levels grew 2.0 points. Employment fell but remained above the benchmark for growth.

Electronic components and equipment was the third strongest category during the month. Industrial and commercial equipment and computers also reported growth.

 

  April 
May June
July
Aug.
PMI 53.3
51.4
53.8
56.6
53.6
New orders 53.7
51.7
57.2
60.6
56.4
Production
56.7
54.9
55.6
61.2
55.9
 Inventories47.9
47.8
47.8
47.5
45.7
 Customer inventories 41.547.5
44.0
44.5
 46.5
Backlogs 53.0
51.0
51.0
49.0
50.5

Source: Institute for Supply Management, August 2005

SAN JOSE – Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose to $18 billion in July, up 0.3% over June but down 0.03% from July 2004, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today. Prices fell despite slight unit growth.
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LOS ALTOS – Have semiconductor inventories gotten out of whack? That’s the assessment one researcher is concluding, saying that the disparity between strong sales of end-use items and the drop in IC shipments suggests a “major inventory adjustment.”

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TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics shrugged off falling margins to record revenues of NT$142.7 billion, up 49%, during the first six months of 2005, the company reported. Pretax profits were up 18% to NT$10.2 million.


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