For Immediate Release, February 2005

Calumet Electronics Corporation is Offering Lead-Free PCB Solutions

Calumet Electronics Corporation announces the expansion of its printed circuit board solutions to include meeting the growing demand for content restricted electronics. CEC has been a leading manufacturer of printed circuit boards in the USA for over 35 years. Quality, performance, and dependability are the core elements of the organization.

A commitment to continuous improvement includes developing products and capabilities that meet the demands of the marketplace. The growing interest in printed circuit boards that meet pending European Union Directives has been met with a certifiable program of compliance. The process includes vendor polling for content disclosure of all raw materials, internal processing evaluation and testing, and independent lab verification.

The need for lead-free solder joints has been met with the acquisition of a new automatic chemical process line from Integrated Process Systems (www.ips-vcm.com) and industry leading chemistry by Uyemura International Corporation (www.uyemura.com) . These changes have been provided Electroless nickel/immersion gold and immersion silver surface coating alternatives to our standard horizontal, hot air leveled tin/lead solder.

"Lead-free alternatives will have a significant impact of the industry," commented Stephen J. Marshall, National Sales Manager at CEC. "We are not only committed to providing products that conform, but working toward providing a better understanding of the impact of conformance throughout the supply chain."

For more information, visit www.cec-up.com.