Unlike, the Y2K changeover, environmental compliance will be an ongoing challenge for parts manufacturers, distributors and end-users. The European Union is already planning additional environmental legislation for batteries and chemicals that will affect the industries that use electronic components. Some experts predict the changeover to environmentally compliant electronics will take 20 years. During this extended conversion, it is critical that maintenance engineers begin to understand the ramifications of RoHS and manage the changeover effectively. “We recommend that engineers first take the time to understand the legislation and how it applies to their situation,” says Fleisher. “There’s a wealth of material available on the Web. Then look for distributors or other suppliers who don’t mix stock in their warehouses, clearly label and flag compliant parts on their websites, proactively inform customers about changing part numbers, and offer conversion services that do the hard work for you. RoHS is a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a hassle if you talk to the right people.” More