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As part of reduction in use of hazardous substances in Nikon products, we are promoting adoption of lead-free solder, development of the metal plating technologies to eliminate the use of hexavalent chrome, reduction in use of heavy metals in overall surface treatments including coatings and inks, elimination of use of lead and PVC in cable/wire covering, and avoidance of heavy metal use in metallic, plastic and electronic components.
Lead-free Flow Furnace
Under the leadership of the Yokohama Plant and Sendai Nikon, the Nikon Group has established a system for employing lead-free solder. The system involves not only Nikon's product development and manufacturing technology departments, but also group companies and business partners.
Nikon's in-house training and technical certification system for the training of staff in the techniques of manual soldering now includes a course on lead-free soldering procedures to help employees master the new technology. By the year ended March 31, 2009, over 950 instructors and certified workers have been trained in lead-free soldering, both in Japan and at overseas production subsidiaries.
Lead-free PCB for advanced immersion-type of IC scanner
Furthermore, the types of lead-free solders have been unified to industry-standard "tin-silver-copper".
The use of lead-free solder is being implemented under the Environmental Action Plan. Progress has been rapid: in the year ended March 31, 2009, Nikon used 100% lead-free solder for the electronic circuit boards in all of its new consumer products, including the D700 digital SLR camera. The use of lead-free solder is also being aggressively promoted for our industrial products (steppers and scanners, microscopes, surveying instruments, etc.), and in the year ended March 31, 2009, 97% of all newly-designed boards were soldered with lead-free materials.
Electro Deposition-painted Threaded Fastener for Camera
(Hexavalent-chrome-free)
Hexavalent chrome compounds are extremely hazardous, but have been extensively used in metal surface treatment for many years. The surface treatment departments of the Yokohama Plant renewed the technologies and processes used for chromate treatment and chrome plating earlier this decade. Through this effort, the plant completely abolished the use of hexavalent chrome in December 2004.
Based on these results and experiences, Nikon has actively introduced hexavalent-chrome-free surface treatment technologies in all product areas.
The many types of surface treatment used in industry are handled in diverse workplaces with diverse components, and pose wide-ranging problems. Nikon has responded by establishing strict technical standards regarding not only hexavalent chrome, but also lead, cadmium, and mercury. The company's goal is to abolish the use of heavy metals entirely.
The Nikon Group plans to abolish the use of hexavalentchromium, lead, cadmium, mercury, PBB, PBDE, PVC and other hazardous chemical substances in our products as much as technically possible. Nikon products consist of materials and components procured from manufacturers and trading companies located worldwide, which are then processed and assembled by many manufacturers through a complex supply chain. To completely eliminate hazardous substances from such a complex manufacturing process, it is essential to confirm the situation through a green procurement system and a chemical analysis of procured materials. Therefore, Nikon has introduced chemical analysis techniques to be carried out by the Quality Assurance Department at major stages in the production process for all types of products. Nikon also trained a large number of technicians in the use of analytical techniques and related know-how to prevent hazardous chemical substances from leaking into Nikon products.