To All Nichicon Customers:

As you are aware over the past several years there has been an emphasis on the elimination of Pb (Lead) from various products.

More recently various laws and directives have been put in place that specifically affects the electronics industry.

We are referring to the Directive of the European parliament and of the council on WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), which requires fractional recovery of electronics starting in July 2005.
Further, RoHS (the Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) also came into force on July 1st, 2006.

Nichicon Corp. has always been ahead of the curve in bringing to market environmentally friendly products. We began full-scale manufacture of Pb-free Tantalum Electrolytic Capacitors (resin-molded chip) in 1986. We have also been producing Pb-free lead finish and Pb-free sleeve (PET, Polyolefin or Nylon laminate case) for Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors since 1997 and pb-free Plastic Film Capacitors since 2005.

Please note that there has been absolutely no problem in using our Pb-free parts in existing assembly processes utilizing Pb contain solder such as Sn-37Pb. Therefore, in making the change to our RoHS compliant products, there is no need to change anything in your Pb contained manufacturing process.

This bulletin is being issue not only to advise you of the fact that Nichicon's Pb-free products are "backward compatible" with Pb contained process, but to request your assistance in approving the change of our Aluminum Electrolytic and Plastic Film Capacitors to RoHS compliant Pb-free as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and quick action to this request.

Sincerely
Nichicon Corporation