Product category:
Subcon Exhibition
News Release from: Subcon | Subject: Seminar
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 March 2007
WEEE and RoHS in subcontractor seminar
Leigh Holloway of environmental consultancy eco3 will discuss the imminent implementation of the WEEE directive, and the end of the honeymoon period for RoHS in a seminar at Subcon.
The imminent implementation of the WEEE directive, and the end of the honeymoon period for RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) legislation have important implications for the relationships between buyers and suppliers, says Leigh Holloway of environmental consultancy eco3 Leigh will be speaking as part of the Subcon 2007 programme on Tuesday 1st May on what current environmental legislation and what buyers and suppliers need to be aware of
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 28 Feb 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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The Subcon seminar programme is to cover global sourcing, intellectual property, lean supply chains and insuring against materials price increases.
Risk free materials buying seminar
A free seminar at the Subcon exhibition on Tuesday 1st May by Neil Banks, Director of Exchange Strategy at the London Metal Exchange, will explain how to take the risk out of material prices.
Subcon, the international show for buyers of contract manufacturing services, takes place from 1 - 3 May at the NEC, Birmingham, and covers everything from machined parts, electronic assemblies, castings, plastic mouldings and metal fabrications, through to full manufacturing services, design and build, and rapid prototyping.
"If you haven't already acted on WEEE you had better get a move on, as the deadline for registration is almost upon us," says Leigh.
"At the same time, RoHS has been in force for around a year.
Further reading
Making UK aerospace makers more competitive
Mike Webb of BAE Systems will be giving a presentation on 1st May as part of the Subcon 2007 free seminar programme on making UK aerospace more competitive.
Intellectual property discussed in seminar
Intellectual property problems need not be catastrophic, a theme discussed by Huw Evans, of commercial law experts Wragge and Co in a seminar at Subcon.
This means that the honeymoon period will soon be over, so we can expect a crackdown on non-compliance, with prosecutions to follow." In the past few years there has been a lot of environmental legislation to come to terms with, and the focus is shifting from the process to the product itself - what materials can be used, how it can be packaged, what has to happen at the end of its life and so on.
So how does that impact on someone who is using a lot of subcontractors, and what do they have to look out for? "These new laws make manufacturers responsible for a product through its complete life cycle, something that has never before been an issue for them, so it is vital that they have a clear understanding of what their suppliers are doing.
For example, do you know for sure that there aren't any banned materials in the product you've just had delivered from China?," says Leigh.
"In the regulations relating to materials restrictions, a lot of your compliance is totally dependent on the subcontractor.
If you are buying components, assemblies or materials from your subcontractor you will be the one that is legally responsible for your product in the market, but they will be the ones that hold the key to your legal compliance.
You need to make sure that you have tied up all the loose ends and that your suppliers also understand what they have to do to comply." And if you are supplying into China watch out for China RoHS.
"It's very much a case of China biting back in response to our legislation. Request a free brochure from Subcon ...
This legislation comes into effect in July and requires products and equipment supplied into China to be certified by a Chinese test house and marked to show both compliance and the lifetime of the product before it may become hazardous.".
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