Leading UK Manufacturer of Solder Paste, Solid & Cored Solder Wires, Lead Free & Rosin Free Solders, Fluxes, Cleaners and High Purity Bar Solder Products.

RoHS, RoHS 2 & RoHS 3
Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment

Warton manufacture a range of RoHS compliant products which meet the requirements of the RoHS (2002/95/EC) directive, RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU) and RoHS 3 Directive, assuring that any potential trace contamination levels of the substances listed, are below the maximum level set by the standard.

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI)
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB’s)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s)
• Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
• Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
• Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)

REACH
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals

REACH became law in the UK on the 1st June 2007. REACH adopted some of the older aspects of the chemicals system in Europe, including Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Previously, under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 (CHIP) suppliers of substances or mixtures meeting the criteria for classification as dangerous have been required to compile and supply a SDS at the first delivery of a substance or mixture. REACH took over this system and it has now been changed to take into account the new Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation.

Warton Metals manufacture soldering consumables which are REACH compliant.

1 March 2018: Lead Solder Products

Restrictions on the sale of lead, both on its own and in a mixture (including in solder products), came into force on 1 March 2018. From this date any lead metal or alloy sold in the EU/EEA above the releavant threshold for concentration of lead must be classified and where required labelled in accordance with the Classification, Packaging and Labelling Regulation (CLP). The Harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) for lead metal applies.

Whilst the use of lead was already restricted for specified uses (Entry 63 of REACH Annex XVII), the classification of lead as a Category 1A reproductive toxicant means that additional restrictions on the supply of leaded solders to customers applies.
Under Annex XVII, which lists the substances and substance groups covered by REACH restrictions, entries 28 to 30 prohibit the supply to the general public of any substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or as a reproductive toxicant Category 1A or 1B.

All of this means that as of 1 March 2018 Warton is no longer able to supply leaded solders to the general public where the individual concentration is equal to or greater than 0.03% for mixtures containing lead metal powder (such as Solder Paste), and 0.3% for mixtures containing lead in massive form (such as Solder Wire, Bar Solder, Tinmans).

Professional users will still be able to purchase leaded solder products, though additional checks may be required to validate that you are a professional user.

All leaded products produced by Warton Metals will be marked as For Professional Use Only.

SVHC's
Substances of Very High Concern

A substance of very high concern (SVHC) is a chemical substance (or part of a group of chemical substances) for which it has been proposed that the use within the European Union be subject to authorisation under the REACH Regulation.

WEEE Directive
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

The Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 ("the Regulations") became law in the UK on the 1st of January 2014 and replaced the 2006 Regulations. The new Regulations transpose the main provisions of Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE which recasts the previous Directive 2002/96/EC.

The legislation requires heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) to be substituted by safer alternatives.

Warton Metals provide a full range of alternative products to meet the WEEE Directive.

Responsible Minerals Initiative
Conflict Minerals (CFSI)

Warton Metals is committed to sourcing materials and supplies from companies that share our values with regard to ethics and integrity, respect for human rights, and environmental responsibility.

This includes the sourcing of conflict minerals, which are minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses, and sold or traded by armed groups. International law recognizes that minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) region present a specific risk in this regard, and requires companies trading in natural resources from the DRC to do so in a way which is socially, economically, and environmentally responsible.

Warton aim to achieve a "conflict free" supply chain – that is, a supply chain that does not directly or indirectly finance armed groups through mining or mineral trading in the DRC region. We require complete supply chain transparency from all of our suppliers and vendors to achieve this goal.

We are also committed to complying with Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act relating to the use of tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold – conflict minerals associated with financing regional violence and an ongoing civil war in the DRC and its adjacent countries.

Modern Slavery Act 2015

Slavery is a global problem with local impact. Not only are forced labour, human trafficking and slavery-like practices gross abuses of fundamental human rights, they create unfair competition, artificially deflate wages and result in legitimate paid work being lost. Warton Metals supports the UK’s zero tolerance policy in relation to modern slavery practices and is fully committed to playing its part in ensuring such activities are not tolerated or practiced by its commercial partners, customers or suppliers. Pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the “Modern Slavery Act”).

ISO 14001
Environmental Management (EMS)

Warton Metals are following the principles of ISO 14001 for an effective environmental management system and working towards this certification.