Hanae Shimokawa

Overview of IMS project; next generation environmental friendly soldering technology "EFSOT"

The 21st century can be called the era of the environment, and various efforts are being made to protect the global environment. For the materials used in the soldering of electronic circuits, there is also concern over the harmful effects of Pb, which is an important component of those materials, and so there is a trend to eliminate the Pb component. Under this background, and founded on the recognized importance of developing an alternative connection technology that has little environmental impact and harm, the IMS Project: Development of the Next Generation Environmental Friendly Soldering Technology began in June, 2000 in cooperation of industry and academia, and supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the IMS (Intelligent Manufacturing Systems) Promotion Center. The project comprises four areas, which are evaluation of the impact of Pb-free soldering on the environment, evaluation of the safety of the metals with respect to living creatures, recycling technology, and the development of production technology. To achieve a worldwide consensus and application, the project is being internationalized.