Environmental Policy

SAE Circuits is committed to manufacturing a quality product while minimizing our impact to the environment, and promoting sustainability for future generations. Environmental Policy is a primary management responsibility, as well as the responsibility of every employee. Reuse and/or recycling of materials has been and will continue to be the first consideration prior to any disposal.

CUSTOMER NEEDS AND SAE CIRCUITS COLORADO, INC.

Customer expectations both in the U.S. and worldwide are changing toward a more environmentally friendly circuit board. The Montreal Protocol, the USEPA's Toxic Substance Control Act, and The EU's RoHS directive mandate that Lead, Chromium, Mercury, Polybrominated Biphenyls, Cadmium, and Polybrominated Diphenyl Esters have no place in electronics, especially when alternatives are easily available. SAE Circuits Colorado, Inc. is on the forefront, offering our customers alternative options.

INKS ,SOLDERMASKS, AND SOLVENTS:

SAE Circuits uses water-based solvents for parts cleaning. All new materials used in our manufacturing process undergo a review in order to eliminate the possibility of a Toxic Organic entering our process. Our inks are chromium (VI) and lead free. Our soldermasks are free of Toxic Organics, and our solvents are water soluble and free of TCE, TCA, or MEK.

LEAD-FREE ALTERNATIVES:

Due to increased demand for alternatives to lead solder, we currently offer electroless nickel / immersion gold surface finishing (Reliavia®), as well as Immersion Silver. Both of these products offer an excellent surface for lead-free soldering. Electroless tin is not part of our process, due to the toxicity of Thiourhea, a major component of the plating bath.

SAE Circuits Colorado, Inc. has also been conducting research in lead-free solders. The problem with most widely accepted solders is two-fold. Most popular lead-free solders contain silver, which is more toxic than lead. They also have higher melting temperatures, which stress equipment and processes more than lead-based solders. We have been researching lead-free solders that have a lower melting point, and no silver.

POLLUTION PREVENTION, AND AWARDS:

Our pollution prevention efforts started in the early 1980s, and have been ongoing since. Projects have included water savings as well as waste minimization. All hazardous wastes and most domestic wastes produced at SAE Circuits are reused elsewhere or recycled, either directly or through fuel blending (waste-to-energy). We are currently producing products that are finished with our acclaimed Reliavia(TM) gold process, and our Organic Solderability Preservative or OSP process. The above processes are substitutes for Tin/Lead solder while retaining superior solderability properties.

In January of 2000 we became the first manufacturing facility in Boulder County to receive certification with P.A.C.E. (Partners for A Clean Environment), a cooperative program sponsored by the City of Boulder, the Boulder Energy Conservation Center, the City of Longmont, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, and the Boulder County Health Department. We are fortunate to also have been involved in past initiatives such as the Colorado Governor's Pollution Prevention Challenge, EPA & DOE's Climate Wise Project, and the  Cleaner & Greener Certification Program also in cooperation with the State of Colorado.

SAE is an Environmental Leader in the Colorado Environmental Leadership Program, and we have received various awards due to our Pollution Prevention successes. We are active in research and development of new and innovative low cost treatment technologies, and periodically sponsor research projects for advanced environmental science students from the University of Colorado in Boulder.

The State of Colorado classified SAE Circuits Colorado, Inc. as a Small Quantity Generator of hazardous waste in 2003. This was accomplished without diminishing our efficiency, and while keeping our production capacity at peak performance, as well as our on-time shipments. Most of our projects have had a substantial return on investment, and as a result our waste management operating costs have been reduced by up to $12,000 monthly. This eventually translates into cost savings passed on to our customers.

If you wish to contact the Environmental department, please call Dave Denman at (303) 530-1900 ext. 151 or send an e-mail to: ddd@saecircuits.com