Analysis
Labtech Microwave attains ISO 14001 environmental re-accreditation
Labtech Microwave, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of microwave solutions has attained ISO 14001 re accreditation, with the aim of continuously developing the company’s environmental working practices.
ISO Fluoroetch use has been similarly reduced and is being replaced by a less consumptive March plasma 1600 system, which is also faster, more reliable and has greater capacity for specialised work.
Commenting on their re accreditation and environmental management development, Mike Attwood, Labtech’s health, safety and environmental process manager, said: “In addition to the phasing out of electroless copper and fluoroetch, we now use Chrome (III) instead of the potentially carcinogenic Chrome (VI) aluminium passivation process and look to eliminate all solvent consumption in due course.
Labtech is also fully equipped to meet the ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) legislation and now in a position to offer customers formal compliance certificates which meet the JIG101 (Joint Industry Guide) standard. Although the work we are carrying out is a general reflection of the standards to which industry on the whole is aspiring to, it is still very important for our employees and our customers to know that we are working in a safe, environmentally aware manner. There is a financial pay-off as well. Recycling 30 tonnes of waste metal per annum helps Labtech to offset the increasing costs of energy, highlighting that good environmental impact management can also be very cost effective.”