Chemical safety is a competitive advantage for Scanfil

Scanfil, an Estonian partner company of the LIFE FFR-2 project, produces telecommunications and industrial electronics.  

In the context of the project, Scanfil aims to improve its existing and well-functioning chemicals risk management system by adding elements that ensure new information is more quickly and efficiently integrated into the existing routines. This should ensure minimal exposure to hazardous substances.  

What the company has already done:

• Introduced a cloud-based software to manage chemicals related data and run their inventory.
• Substituted solvent containing toluene, which is a suspected reprotoxic chemical and may damage organs through prolonged or repeated exposure. The solvent was used in open system for cleaning the printed circuit board varnish frames in electronics having high exposure potential to workers. Scanfil introduced a washing machine thereby enclosing the process and enabling the uses of the safer benzyl alcohol as solvent.
• In the soldering process that uses reprotoxic lead solder, a robotic device is being tested with the aim of purchasing it if it meets the set criteria. The new device operates automatically and in a closed system, which significantly reduces the risk to the work environment.

Next steps

Scanfil is planning to purchase automatic gel coating equipment for the electronic department, which further reduces workers exposure to hazardous chemicals.