ESNA spoke with ReSolve, part of Arrow's newly launched reverse logistics group, which also includes Intechra, an IT asset disposition services company and Converge, an independent distributor, to discuss the importance of a reverse supply chain logistics program. 
The aftermath of Japan's earthquake last month has left the electronics supply chain struggling with production stoppages and shipment delays of electronic components and raw materials supply.
Because the DRAM market is highly volatile the current buyer's market could quickly swing into a seller's market during the second half of 2011. Buyers will need to keep an eye on several key issues.
ECHA proposes 8 additional SVHCs
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed an additional eight chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation due to their potential impact on human health. ECHA notes that these chemicals are “carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or toxic for reproduction.” The agency is accepting comments on the proposals until April 22.
Three EU member states — Denmark, France and Germany — identified the eight chemical substances as candidates for authorization. The substances are trichloroethylene, boric acid, disodium tetraborate (anhydrous), tetraboron disodium heptaoxide (hydrate), sodium chromate, potassium chromate, ammonium dichromate, and potassium dichromate. Click here for more details on each of the substances.
Anyone can comment on these eight proposals within the next 45 days, says ECHA. Comments should focus primarily on the hazardous properties that qualify the chemicals as SVHCs. Comments can provide further information on the uses, exposures and availability of safer alternative substances or techniques. These will be considered at the next stage of the process (i.e. selection of substances for authorization), which includes a new round of public consultation, according to the agency.
The Member State Committee will review these comments when seeking an agreement on the identification as SVHC before ECHA includes these substances on the Candidate List, from which substances are selected for authorization. Substances that appear on the Authorization List can, after a transition period, only be used if a specific authorization is granted.
There are already 29 substances on the Candidate List.
Delphi Automotive intros an aluminum cable as an alternative to more expensive copper cabling in automotive applications.
It is good to put down substances in candidate list. But are there any replacements for those substances? Many companies will have major business problems if they are banned. There should be a particular replacement data provided to the producers to totally eliminate these substances.