HERNDON, VA – iNEMI sponsored two forums in late 2008, both of which outlined industry action to address current and future environmental challenges and, in response to this input, iNEMI has identified new collaborative efforts. 
 
Proposals for four iNEMI projects emerged from discussions at the Sustainability Summit: noncompetitive lifecycle assessments for information and communication technology products based on a building block approach using assembly emulators; PVC replacement alternatives, using LCAs to compare PVC vs. PVC-free cables and technical evaluation of alternatives; establishing a market for post-consumer plastics as feedstock for green products (e.g., polycarbonate, ABS — acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), and establishing electronics applications for post-consumer blended plastics (e.g., housings for power supplies).
 
Two of these initiates are currently in development, says the consortium. Tom Okrasinski, Alcatel-Lucent, and Todd Myers, Cisco, will champion the Eco-Impact Evaluator for ICT Equipment Initiative (noncompetitive LCAs); and Scott O’Connell, Dell, is championing the PVC alternatives effort.
 
To become involved in either project, contact Jim Arnold, iNEMI consultant, at jim.arnold@rissastudios.com.
 
Other areas identified for industry action include working with an IPC standards committee to create a practical industry definition of “halogen-free”; creating an HFR- and PVC-free component and board test specification and metrology, and through traditional volume learning curves, achieving HFR- and PVC-free materials cost, delivery and quality parity. 

BANGALORE – Essemtec India has expanded its office here to offer total SMT solutions with full sales and service support. 
 
The branch office service department will act as service hub for the Indian and Southeast Asian markets, according to Jay Kumar, managing director India.
 
“All service cases will be managed directly by the Indian service team, which is trained by the Swiss headquarters. Essemtec will be able to provide total application solutions plus operator and maintenance trainings,” he said.
 
The office was founded in 2007 as a liaison site to establish business in the region.
 
Essemtec India also will open a demo room in Bangalore during the first quarter of 2009. Additionally, the firm will use the facility for customer training and seminars.