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Hong Kong, 21 November, 2005 – IBM China/Hong Kong Limited today announced a partnership with Clever Motion Technology Limited (CMT), an e-business solutions provider with domain expertise in RoHS compliance, to help buyers and manufacturers meet the requirements of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) European Union Directive.
Also being announced today is the launch of Green-part.com, the first portal designed to source compliant parts and information about RoHS; and the RoHS Information System for Enterprises (RISE), a one-stop solution designed to reduce the complexity involved in ensuring RoHS compliance. Green-part.com is powered by IBM's eServer® OpenPower™, WebSphere® Application Server Express, and DB2® Universal Database Express Edition running on Novell SUSE® LINUX.
Green-part.com provides a free public service for both buyers and manufacturers in Hong Kong and South China to address RoHS compliance issues through the procurement process. Buyers and manufacturers increasingly face the challenge of how to best source qualified parts as the deadline for meeting the EU Directive nears on 1 July, 2006. By creating a directory of compliant products, Green-part.com mitigates the risk and time involved for buyers looking to source components that are RoHS compliant.
"IBM is committed to helping businesses address evolving regulations as they look to capitalise on and expand market opportunities," said Jeff Chang, Executive, Software Group, IBM China/Hong Kong Limited. "Through our relationship with CMT, we are working to provide services that enable Hong Kong and South China manufacturers to maximise operational efficiency while at the same time, anticipating and meeting customer needs by easing the processes involved with ensuring compliance."
Green-part.com benefits manufacturers by providing a single point to post Certificates of Compliance (CoC), test reports and material composition declarations, saving time and resources that would otherwise be spent in responding to multiple buyer requests for information. The portal also offers advice and data on exemption requirements and relevant news updates leveraging the broader expertise of a consortium established between CMT, the Electronics Packaging & Assembly (EPA) Centre of the City University of Hong Kong, and testing and systems auditor, Intertek, earlier this year.
"Non-compliance of the RoHS directive could translate into lost orders and have a negative impact on the export economy," said Alan Kan, Managing Director, Clever Motion Technology Limited. "Procurement is the first line of defense for ensuring compliance, and Green-part.com is helping to put real-time efficiency into the procurement process. We see tremendous growth opportunities for Green-part.com, and thanks to the very solid and robust infrastructure that IBM is providing, we will be able to further develop Green-part.com to address compliance requirements beyond RoHS."
Green-part.com is supported by IBM infrastructure technologies on Linux platform, creating a robust hardware and software solution that is both secure and scalable. Based on open standards, this infrastructure solution enables Green-part.com to scale along with the changing needs of the industry.
Partnership Drives Solutions for Manufacturers
As part of their cooperation, IBM and CMT are introducing a new solution called the RoHS Information System for Enterprises (RISE). RISE enables manufacturers to combat the challenges associated with the RoHS EU Directive compliance effectively, freeing up time to focus on their core business and increase their competitive edge. RISE is a one-stop solution that combines a reliable, secure and scalable hardware and software platform built with IBM's WebSphere Application Server, DB2 Universal Database and IBM eServer OpenPower running Novell SUSE Linux, with consultancy services from IBM, CMT and its fellow consortium members at the EPA Centre of the City University of Hong Kong and Intertek.
IBM and CMT will demonstrate RISE at a jointly-sponsored series of RoHS solution workshops* in Shenzhen and Hong Kong in December 2005. The workshops will focus on key issues related to RoHS legislation, including the impact of RoHS, what manufacturers need to know, and how they can respond.
About Clever Motion Technology
Clever Motion Technology (CMT) Limited was founded in February 2000 with the vision to help companies apply the latest Information Technology in their daily operations to achieve higher efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. For further information, please visit www.clevermotion.com.
*The RoHS Solution Workshops will take place as follows:
RoHS Solution Workshop Shenzhen
Date: Thursday Dec. 8, 2005.
Time: 2:30pm-4:30pm
Venue: Reception, IBM China 6/F, LiMing Building, Keji Rd.1. S, South Area, Shenzhen Hi-tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District, Shenzhen P.R.C. 518057
RoHS Solution Workshop Hong Kong
Date: Monday Dec 19, 2005.
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Venue: IBM Software Training Centre 10/F PCCW Tower, Taikoo Place 979 King's Road, Quarry Bay
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