Conflict Minerals

As a supplier of frequency control products, RubyQuartz Technology, LLC uses certain minerals in the products we manufacturer. While Raltron requires all our suppliers to comply with the Electronics Industry Code of Conduct and to only source materials from environmentally and socially responsible suppliers, we recognize the complex supply chain involved with certain minerals and have taken steps to ensure that virgin metals we purchase do not originate in conflict mines. ‘Conflict Mining’ or ‘Conflict Metals’ or ‘Conflict Minerals’ refers to the illegal control of some mines in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. The electronics industry uses certain types of metals, some of which are potentially refined from minerals obtained from these mines.

The primary minerals and metals that could potentially come from conflict mines are:

  • Cassiterite (tin)
  • Gold
  • Cobalt
  • Coltan (tantalum)
  • Wolframite (tungsten)
  • Pyrochlore (niobium)

The metals that RubyQuartz Technology, LLC uses are tin and gold. Tin is used in certain copper alloy terminals, some platings, and solder, while gold is used in platings of some terminals and gold electrodes. Tungsten is also used in the making of the ceramic packages used in SMD components.

RubyQuartz Technology, LLC does not directly purchase any of the other minerals and metals listed (cobalt, niobium, and tantalum), so we are focusing our efforts on tin and gold suppliers.

RubyQuartz Technology, LLC requires all our suppliers to conform to the Electronics Industry Code of Conduct (found at http://www.responsiblebusiness.org/) because the supply chain for these minerals is complex, Raltron has requested that our tin and gold suppliers, trace these metals to their source, and to take corrective actions if any conflict mines are used. Raltron and its suppliers do not knowingly use any virgin tin or gold obtained from conflict mines and will regularly query suppliers to verify our requirements are being met to help ensure the health and safety of all workers in our supply chain

 

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