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WILSONVILLE, Ore., July 26, 2005 - Mentor Graphics
Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT), the market and technology leader in printed
circuit board (PCB) design solutions, today announced PCB tool support
that enables original equipment manufacture (OEM) customers to achieve
Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliance. Mentor's solution
helps OEMs ensure compliance early and throughout the design process,
eliminating costly iterations. Customers are able to leverage the
component library data field flexibility to implement filtered search
and Bills of Material (BOM) capabilities, enabling OEMS to design for
RoHS compliance and avoid expensive redesign time.
Using component data captured in Mentor's DxDataBook™ system, designers can now search for approved, hazardous material-free parts for their PCB designs, as well as produce work-in-process BOMs containing summations of hazardous material content in their products. RoHS Regulations The RoHS regulations that go into effect July 2006, require electronics companies to provide proof that they have complied with regulations limiting the amount of six hazardous materials, including lead, in their products. Today, these materials can be found in the components, fabrication of the PCB, and in the assembly parts. Component suppliers are being asked to document the material content of their parts in data supplied to the OEMs. By adding this material content to the component library data and flagging parts that are RoHS compliant, OEMs can ensure that their designers have the information they need to make the proper choices. "The compliance deadline may be over a year in the future, but many OEMs are starting to plan processes, develop the infrastructure and incorporate RoHS-compliant practices in their design methodologies," stated Henry Potts, vice president and general manager of Mentor's Systems Design Division. "We are working to provide our customers the capability to flow through the entire design process in a more efficient manner." Board Material Requirements Mentor is also aiding its customers in making changes to new board materials required for RoHS compliance. To accommodate lead-free soldering, the external layers of the PCB are now made from different materials than the internal layers. These new materials must be correctly modeled for their electrical characteristics when designers perform delay and signal integrity analysis. Mentor's automated layer stack-up analyzers, driven by the manufacturer's materials data, allow designers to quickly and accurately model the new heterogeneous layer stackups and accurately perform high-speed signal integrity and EMI analysis using HyperLynx®. In addition, special component placement rules and new solder mask configurations can be followed by Mentor's PADS® PCB layout and manufacturing checking products. About Mentor Graphics Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of over $700 million and employs approximately 3,850 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777; Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/. Mentor Graphics, HyperLynx and PADS are registered trademarks and DxDataBook is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, please contact: Debra Layton Suzanne Graham |