ELFNET (European Lead Free soldering NETwork) was a European research network of the national organisations, technical experts and industry bodies in micro-electronics.
ELFNET provided a platform to coordinate, integrate and optimise research, enabling electronics producers in the EU to meet an EU directive to introduce lead-free soldering by 1 July 2006.
ELFNET operated in 19 European countries and was funded by the European Commission.
The project completed in March 2007.
This website has been left open for dissemination of the ELFNET knowledge base. Membership of the project is now closed. The project coordinator for the project was Soldertec Global.
Soldertec Global has sponsored the continued hosting of the ELFNET website since the end of the project.
Soldertec Global coordinates a network of solder manufacturers and electronics supply chain companies drawn from Europe, Asia and the Americas. Membership is focused on advanced soldering technologies and aims to provide opportunities for members to identify and develop new technologies and to address key industry issues, including working group forums.
For more information on Soldertec Global Membership please visit the website at www.soldertec.com
ELFNET gathered data from key players across Europe on priority lead-free soldering technology implementation Issues, and created a set of Solutions. To review these activities please visit the ELFNET Issues to Solutions Matrix
In April 2006 ELFNET experts delivered a key set of presentations at the SEMICON Europa 2006 exhibition based on the priority Solutions topics. The presentations can be downloaded here...
Presentations from a set of ELFNET Seminars given at the Electronix Fair in September 2006 are available here. They detail state-of-the-art in lead-free soldering technology including reliability and use in automotive electronics.
ELFNET is now moving forwards through the lead-free transition and looking to the future of electronics interconnection research.
During 2006 a series of Roadmapping meetings have resulted in the ELFNET Roadmap - 'The Future of European Electronics Interconnection'
This was launched, along with other ELFNET results, at the ELFNET Dissemination Event in San Sebastian, Spain March 1st-2nd 2007.
See also:
Current Status of European Lead-Free Soldering 2006
Reliability remains a key topic in lead-free soldering, of particular relevance to high reliability or harsh environment sectors such as aerospace, defence and automotive. Of particular concern is the lack of harmonisation of quality and reliability test methods. As a significant step in this direction, ELFNET published the ELFNET
Quality &
Reliability Colour Books in April 2007. These are authoritative reviews by Europe's experts of state-of-the-art and latest data for all known quality and reliability failures. Chapters are downloadable pdf files, accessible by ELFNET Affiliate members only.
