AB announce the first product in its new family of lightweight military connector systems optimised to enhance the portability of rugged field-based communication equipment.

AB Interconnect Inc is currently working to change its plating finishes to be RoHS compliant. We have two new plating finishes both Electroless Nickel and Zinc Nickel which will fulfills Rohs compliance. Electroless Nickel is now available for all our connectors with exception for the D38999 Series III, however the D38999 range is available in RoHS compliant Electroless Nickel as a proprietary part (non-QPL). The QPL testing and approvals are in process for Electroless Nickel plating for D38999 . In addition we are submitting samples for QPL testing of the D38999 series III connectors plated in Black Zinc Nickel and we expect to complete QPL approval testing by mid-year. The development of Black Zinc Nickel plating in 2010 will ensure RoHS compliance for all of AB's transportation product lines. Black Zinc Nickel is a QPL RoHS compliant approved and is the recommended finish, to meet the 500 hour Salt spray test requirement. AB Interconnect is proud to announce these new plating finishes as part of its mission to support the worldwide RoHS initiatives.

What is RoHS?

Working in partnership with the policy lead at the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), NMO is the UK Enforcement Authority for the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2008 (the "RoHS Regulations"). These Regulations implement EU Directive 2002/95 which bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.

RoHS implementation date?

The RoHS Directive and the UK RoHS regulations came into effect on 1 July 2006.

The RoHS Directive is an Article 95 single market directive.