NOTE leading the technology shift

In conjunction with the Elmia Fair in Jönköping, Sweden, 9-12 November, NOTE is presenting a radical initiative to meet EU requirements for lead-free production. The transition to lead-free affects the entire European EMS sector, and will be completed by 1 July 2006.

From 1 July 2006, EU regulations will only allow lead-free production of electronics, a change that affects the European EMS sector. NOTE, which has been working on this transition for some three years, is now launching a total offer for Swedish product owners and others. The offer includes three levels of co-operation: total responsibility - complete responsibility for converting a product to lead-free. BOM analysis - review of the components involved. Preparation of Roadmap - conversion planning: including, among other things, the need for BOM analysis, testing and redesign.

NOTE is at the forefront of technological progress in this area, and has participated in a research collaboration co-ordinated by the Swedish Institute for Engineering Research (IVF).

In partnership with SMT, China's representative in the global ems-ALLIANCE network, NOTE has developed a model for lead-free production. SMT can now also deliver volume production with a lead-free solution.

"By starting the transition to lead-free three years ago, we have now reached the point where we have been supplying lead-free production for some time," says Anders Söderbärg. We are also seeing a rapid increase in demand for lead-free and we expect this trend to accelerate until 1 July 2006."

For further information, please contact
Erik Stenfors, President and CEO of NOTE AB; +46 (0)176-799 01 or +46 (0)709-50 80 70
Anders Söderbärg, PhD, NOTE AB; 0176-794 82 or 0706-72 31 82

Facts about NOTE
NOTE is one of Scandinavia's leading contract manufacturers of electronics, offering specialised competence in electronics production across the entire value chain, from design and development to production and after-sales.
NOTE is established in Sweden, the UK, Poland and Lithuania.

Net sales for 2003 totalled SEK 859 million and profit before tax was SEK 63 million. The group has approximately 950 employees. NOTE is listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
www.note.se
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