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Sustainability and Environmental Protection
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Sustainability are the environment and key topics for companies throughout the world - it is the
same at Würth Elektronik. Environmental protection is an inherent part of the company philosophy
and is actively followed by the employees in the Group. We work together to keep our impact on
the environment to an absolute minimum. Our environmental management is part of our Integra-
ted Management System (IMS). It supplements quality management and thus has a direct and
sustainable effect on workflows and processes in the company.
In terms of environmental measures, Würth Elektronik Circuit Board Technology consciously does
a lot more than simply comply with the statutory regulations. These regulations are all more than
fulfilled in our circuit board plants and in many cases we remain well below the prescribed limit
values. We update our environmental key performance indicators (KPI) every six months. They
form the basis for us to continuously reduce our consumption of energy, raw materials, resources
and water as well as our airborne and noise emissions. In an international comparison,
our environmental activities make us one of the leaders in our industry. Therefore, our customers
can be sure that in the manufacture of our products, our environmental impact is as low as pos-
sible due to our state of the art approach.
In this brochure, we would like to present our environmental activities in the Circuit Board Tech-
nology Unit. Over the last years, we have invested heavily to achieve a considerable, measurable
improvement in our environmental balance. When you read this brochure, we will already have
taken another few steps in this direction. Nevertheless, the information gives you some first im-
pressions of what we have already achieved. And that‘s a lot.
Kind regards
Denis Giba Andreas Gimmer
Management Committee Würth Elektronik Circuit Board Technology
Think about tomorrow today
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An important environmentaltarget at Würth Elektronik is toreduce our environmental impactsto a minimum through targetedprocurement and by using rawmaterials and resources carefully.
We demand that our key suppliers have an environmental managementsystem according to DIN 14001 and we regularly assess our suppliers,also in terms of their environmental behavior. We control our orders ofproducts and raw materials in a needs-based manner.
In our production we use raw materials specifically and keep ourconsumption as low as possible. We are continuously developing newprocesses to make circuit boards smaller and lighter without reducingtheir performance or efficiency. Back in 2002, we developed TWINflex®,a more environmentally friendly foil printed circuit board using pollution-free and reusable materials.
We consistently use innovative circuit board technologies that allow usto save resources, such as by
�� mapping simple passive components, such as coils, small capaci-tances, contacts or heat sinks directly in the copper layer,�� insertion of resistors with special pastes,�� embedding flip-chips with integrated functions �� direct positioning of integrated circuits on circuit boards (chip on
board, chip in board),�� increasing packaging density through „buried contacts” (buried-via
technology),�� specific heat management (thermal via contacts).
As regards the use of hazardous materials, we are committed to a clearavoidance strategy. We are continuously looking for alternative materialsand we substitute components with a high hazardous substance poten-tial. We have the option to use only substances that are registeredaccording to REACH and that are approved according to statutory regu-lations, such as RoHS, the German Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance, or the German Chemicals Law. We have been offering alternatives to lead-
based soldering processes since 1996.
One of our greatest concerns
Our aim is to reduce our average consumption of raw materials and resources in the future.
We plan to do this by further developing existing technolo-gies, by using new technologies, by miniaturizing solutionseven further in close collaboration with our customers andsuppliers and by developing new applications to conserveresources and raw materials.
gies, by using new technologies, by miniaturizing solutionseven further in close collaboration with our customers andsuppliers and by developing new applications to conserve
Innovative FALTfl ex® – Technology
Raw materials and resources
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Energy management system according to DIN EN ISO 50001
The system helps us to discover and take advantage of any energy saving opportunities that arise. Due to the energy monitoring system, the energy consumption by individual systems can be analyzed. Through the continuous expansion of this system and the transparency in our energy consumption, we can rapidly and effective take measures to reduce our carbon footprint. A concise action plan forms the basis of our processes.
In terms of energy-saving measures even small steps have a noticeable effect on the environmental balance:
�� Replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving lamps. �� Changing from single shipments to collective shipments.�� Replacing motors with more energy efficient alternatives.�� When making investments, we always focus on energy efficiency.�� For example, a new laser imager can reduce energy consumption
by more than 60 percent.
Compressed air is one of the most expensive forms of energy.Würth Elektronik has taken specific measures to considerably reduce energy losses in its compressed air systems:
�� We use new ultrasound measuring instruments to find leaks. �� Leaks are eliminated, components are replaced with low-loss
fittings.�� Compressors are controlled in a needs-based manner. One bar
excess pressure requires about 7% more energy with no additional benefits. �� The latest oversized, frequency-controlled compressors in the new
circuit board plant in Niedernhall consume less energy.�� The goal of Würth Elektronik is continuous maintenance of the
compressed air system.�� The parts which require compressed air are continually examined
and are replaced with alternatives when necessary.�� Waste heat is reused in other processes e.g. heating of baths.
Energy
Refrigeration and air conditioning are other big energy consumers. Back in 2006, we began to split our refrigeration system into different temperature levels. The entire cooling systems are regularly tested for efficiency and adequacy and are replaced when re-quired.
Systems with direct free cooling supplement the refrigeration system. Electricity-intensive refrigeration machines and air conditioning systemsare used only when the outdoor temperature exceeds a defined level.
In new buildings we use the latest technologies for refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
We feed the waste heat from our existing compressors and the produc-tion machines directly into the heating system. By using waste heat, we were able to drastically reduce our consumption of heating energy.
We record our consumption of electricity, water, heating and cooling energy, gas and oil and develop an efficient energy control program.
Würth Elektronik uses renewable energies to generate electricity where possible. When we renovate our energy systems and in our new buildings we go far beyond the statutory specifications. For exa-mple, with solar modules on the roofs of production halls.
Efficient energy management to ensure sustainable use of resources.
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High-quality sterile water is needed in the production of circuit boards. Therefore, drinking water is first fed through the machine cooling sys-tem, as a „refrigerant” where it is heated and then prepared for the pro-cess (desalinated).
Water consumption in the circuit board plants of the Würth Elektronik Group has been drastically reduced over 15 years through investments in intelligent production and the successive introduction of cascada rinsing.
The aim is, based on the currentwater consumption, to reduce iteven more over the coming years.
To achieve this�� we are successively optimizing the cascade rinsing systems,�� using rinsing water several times,�� we measure and analyze the fresh water feed,�� continuously measuring the conductance of rinsing water.
In this way, the rinsing water can be adjusted to suit the respective requirements.
To reduce the feed of fresh water and the discharge of waste- water Würth Elektronik tries to ensure that water is used optimally. The systems with a light burden of metal products are fed to a conven-tional wastewater treatment system. Wastewater with high metal bur-dens and complex wastewater are additionally subject to biological treatment. The wastewater from the two treatment systems that flows into the natural water system is well below the statutory limit values.
Through the rinsing processes heavy metals, mainly copper, get into the water. This polluted water is cleaned in the company’s own wastewater treatment systems.
Further reductions in water consumption and wastewater can be achie-ved by changing and improving processes and through new technolo-gies. Würth Elektronik constantly shares its experiences with plant constructors and, in collaboration with its suppliers, develops solutions to reduce water consumption and wastewater volumes.
Internal laboratories with measured and test equipment to gurantee the quality.
Water and Wastewater
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In every production plant exhaustair and noise have an impact onthe environment. Over the lastyears, Würth Elektronik has in-vested heavily in constructionalmeasures for soundproofing andfor cleaning exhaust air.
At all our locations, we remain well below the limit values for noise emis-sions. Würth Elektronik constantly maintains active contact with munici-pal and city administrations and with various authorities and institutionsand seeks constructive cooperation.
Just as an example: In Niedernhall, the noise barrier around therefrigeration system reduces noise emissions in the surroundings to many times below the permissible limit. The new production hall at the location was built according to the latest guidelines of the German Federal Pollution Control Act and designed to fulfill requirements in the distant future.
The drilling and milling dust in the production process is collected in FIBCs via a central vacuum system and is then recycled. Depending on the content, the exhaust air from the process machines is fed to differentscrubbers so that it can be separated and cleaned reliably. The scrub-bers are monitored electronically. The wastewater produced in these systems is fed to the company’s internal wastewater treatment system.
A modern biofilter is used especially for exhaust air containing sol-vents; the remaining volatile organic compounds (VOC) are then filteredout in this system. VOCs are also responsible for summer smog. In sum-mer they cause ozone to form close to the ground. High ozone levels areharmful for humans, flora and fauna. With the biofilter, Würth Elektronikhas reduced emissions of air containing VOCs to a fraction per cubic meter.
Emissions
Modern soundproofingon buildings reduces noise emissions.
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Waste
Würth Elektronik always pursues a waste prevention strategy. Consump-tion of raw materials and resources is reduced to a minimum. We use every single possibility to reduce all forms of consumption.
Waste is separated at the company‘s own recycling station and is recycled or disposed of by certified disposal companies. The waste is separated down to very small parts, such as batteries, fluores-cent tubes, rechargeable batteries, plastics, wood, etc. The better the individual fractions are separated, the more effectively they can be reused.
Most of the etching materials used in the process, such as hydrochloric acid or copper salts, are reused in other areas of the process system.
Recyclable metal-based solutions are reprocessed. About 88 percent of the recycled solutions are returned to Würth Elektronik. Salt solutions that we can no longer use are sent directly to other indus-tries, where they are used in other processes.
We collect precious metals, separated according to fractions.
Wastewater sludge containing metals is reprocessed, the remainder isfed to a thermal recycling system or taken to land fill sites.
Consistent waste separation.
Würth Elektronik startedrecycling residual materialsat a very early stage.Today, 97 percent of all wasteproduced in the circuit boardplants is recycled.
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Würth Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG
Salzstraße 21
74676 Niedernhall · Germany
Tel. +49 7940 946-0
Fax +49 7940 946-550000
more than you expect
On our website www.we-online.com you will find moreinformation about the environment and sustainability.If you have any questions or suggestions,please feel free to contact us: [email protected]
This brochure was printed on100% recycled paper.
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