It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but what do a leading EMS, two universities, and the US Department of Energy have in common? They are all working separately on technologies that, if combined, will lead to the ultimate solution in display technology. This week, EMS {complink 4773|Sanmina-SCI Corp.} entered into a manufacturing…
Now that the EU's revision of its Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) has been published in The Official Journal of the European Union, the clock begins ticking for EU member states to integrate the environmental guidelines into their laws. EU-wide, however, the law goes into effect on July 21, 2011 — 20 days after the…
After more than three years of holding its breath, the global electronics industry is getting some clarification on China's long-awaited RoHS environmental standard. “Some three and a half years late there finally looks to be movement on defining China RoHS,” writes Premier Farnell plc's head of legislation Gary Nevison on his blog. However, Nevison tells…
Einstein's theory of relativity is alive and well in the electronics industry. The action: The EU's version of the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is approaching clarity. The reaction: India's version of RoHS appears to be as clear as mud. The EU has officially adopted a revised RoHS which clarifies a number of issues pertaining…
The European Union has officially announced it is tightening the rules banning hazardous substances in electrical and electronics equipment — the environmental measure called RoHS. The revision extends the RoHS directive, which bans six hazardous substances in the EU, to include more electrical appliances. The ban will also now apply to all electrical and electronic…
IDC Energy Insights forecasts that the global smart meter market will exceed 71 million units by 2015
It's Friday, it's been a long week, and later today I'll have an interview that will provide lots of useful information I will share with you next week. But for the moment, I'd like to introduce something I'll call “a market niche we never knew we had.” Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes. They come with a…
The proposed SEC disclosure rules for the conflict minerals provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act have caused concern to mount among OEMs about the legislation’s impact on the electronics supply chain. Will it result in higher component costs? Will foundry production be disrupted? How can I possibly be expected to…
Although it seems like it is taking forever for the US clean technology industry to take off, venture investment in the market is on the rise, according to recent reports. US venture capital investment in clean tech companies increased by 54 percent to $1.14 billion in Q1 2011 from $743.3 million in Q1 2010, despite…
Europe may be overreaching with its environmental compliance laws. Don’t get me wrong. I believe state, federal, and international environmental regulations are good. Without them, do you really think recycling programs would have created themselves or organizations would have willingly stopped producing devices containing harmful substances? But then a story in The Economist reminded me…