Lead free solders have always been available and supplied by DKL for a variety of industrial and electronic uses but recent legislation has focussed attention on this range of products.

The European Union has taken the decision to ban the presence of 6 hazardous substances, including lead and cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment "put on the market" under the RoHS EU Directive 2002/95/EC, “Restriction of Hazardous Substances”. The current deadline for compliance in the UK is 1st July 2006. (For further assistance from Soldertec UK please click here)

When selecting a lead free alloy replacement there are many factors which should influence your final decision. We have prepared a short table of points which we believe are important in arriving at a balanced, or and, informed decision. Why don't you compare your alloy choice and see how it stacks up against us?

To assist in a seamless changeover to lead free production DKL has continued to expand its portfolio of available lead free solders. DKL Metals are the only UK licensed manufacturer of all three of the top selling lead free alloy systems in use worldwide:

SN100C Lead Free Solder - Patent held by Nihon Superior Co. Ltd of Japan, patent No's. EU0985486/JPN3152948/US6180055

E-Qual 97TSC (SAC305) Lead Free Solder - Patent held by Senju Metal Industry Co. Ltd of Japan, patent No. JP3027441

E-Qual 96TSC (SAC387) Lead Free Solder- Patent held by Iowa State University Research Foundation "ISURF", patent No. US5,527,628

Having chosen your lead free alloy system it is important to ensure these alloys are not mixed with other lead-free solders nor tin/lead. To assist in easy identification all DKL branded lead free alloys are engraved, "lead free", stamped with grade and unique batch number and packaged in either green or green and white cartons readily identified with RoHS compliant lead free artwork. Each bar can be individually labelled at additional cost using our "Identibar" labelling system where required.

Together with our global partners, DKL Metals respects the intellectual property rights of the relevant patent holders of lead free alloy systems and we are fully licensed to manufacture and sell all of the most popular lead free alloys. As part of our license agreements DKL Metals makes a payment to the Patent Holder/Licensee. This means that all customers buying these patented alloys from DKL should not be required to make any further royalty payment and can export their finished products globally without concerns of potential patent infringements

Our lead free solder range also contains an option of low cost alloys better suited for the low volume, lower technology end of the market e.g. E-Qual Lowsac Type Y. We also produce standard tin/copper, tin/silver and various other lead free specifications and where required a custom-tailored alloying service to suit individual customer requirements.

DKL Metals have a fully equipped in house laboratory which not only assures customers of quality and integrity of products supplied but enables us to offer a wide variety of analytical services including routine bath analysis. This service is now more important than ever given the stringent impurity limits demanded by current lead free legislation.