In October, the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation audited the XRF testing processes at E-Certa, a laboratory providing the services of converting semiconductors from lead (Pb) to lead-free and vice versa (for RoHS-exempt applications).

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006, the A2LA awarded its certificate to E-Certa for XRF analysis (test by method ISO3497 and ASTM B568) along with ISO17025 certification.

“Reliability is essential to our process, with ISO17025 & laboratory accreditation  from A2LA, we underscore our attention to detail when testing to ensure that customers’ semiconductors are in the Pb or Pb-free format needed.” says Joel Deutsch, President of E Certa, Inc.

Electronics companies that are having difficulty finding desired semiconductors in Pb-free version (RoHS compliant) or Pb version (for exempt products) are only now learning that they can have the components converted to the appropriate Pb format using E-Certa’s licensed, international patent pending process.  The option of converting components is both economically and environmentally advantageous.

To ensure that Pb levels are below the maximum concentration value set by RoHS, the laboratory’s equipment and processes need to be reliable and consistent. The A2LA certifications go a long way in confirming that E-Certa's XRF testing processes are accurate and reliable.

This accreditation came as E-Certa performed an informational presentation at an electronics industry conference titled “Analyzing for Counterfeits and RoHS Compliance” at the Counterfeit Components Detection and Prevention Symposium. E-Certa's presentation described the dangers of RoHS counterfeits and how the industry can use XRF technology and other means to detect RoHS misrepresentation.

Electronics companies relying on unfamiliar component sources around the world need to ensure that their components are indeed what they are represented as.
Functionality and reliability depend on the component specification to be correctly identified before being placed in manufacturing production.  Our laboratory – using both Fischer (XRF technology) for Pb verification and metallurgical inspection equipment for delidding processes have prevented potential disastrous events for clients worldwide.  

To learn more about E-Certa’s processes, visit their website www.e-certa.com and register to view their company overview flash presentation.

E-certa is a bonded, turnkey operation, with cooperating technologies and facilities, combined to provide the following services:

• Component lead conversion (Pb-free to Pb, and Pb to Pb-free)
• XRF testing for compliance
• Material declaration
• Delidding for component verification
• Material content searchable database
• Reclaim/reuse conversion
• Marking services
• Lead scan and condition
• Bake and dry pack
• Tape and reel
• Consignment
• Donations to C3501 (Earth for Humanities)
• WEEE Recycling

For more information go to: www.e-certa.com.

Keywords : E-Certa, ISO17023

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