Why it matters for robotics sourcing

Any electronics entering the EU supply chain must comply with RoHS, including robot components, sensors, drives, and controllers. System integrators assembling equipment for EU deployment are responsible for verifying RoHS compliance throughout the bill of materials.

What to verify from the supplier

1. 1Request a RoHS Declaration of Conformity covering the specific product and RoHS 3 (EU Directive 2015/863)
2. 2Confirm the declaration references all 10 restricted substances, not just the original 6
3. 3For complex assemblies, request material declarations at the subcomponent level
4. 4Check that the declaration covers the exact model number and revision being sourced
5. 5For high-volume sourcing, consider requesting IPC-1752A or IEC 62474 format material declarations

Common gaps in supplier certification documentation

• Declaration references RoHS 1 or 2 but not current RoHS 3 requirements
• Declaration covers the product family but not the specific variant with the relevant PCB revision
• Subcontractor-manufactured components are not covered by the declaration
• No material declaration available — only a verbal or marketing claim
• Declaration issued by the supplier themselves with no third-party testing reference