Background The use of lead as solder in electronic equipment was banned in July 2006 under the Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (2002/96/EC). The process of lead-free soldering is technically feasible but still needs to be further developed for general applications. Staff in particular needs to be trained in handling leadfree process technology. Objectives The project, LEADFREE, aimed to guide a minimum of 300 electronics SMEs in manufacturing competitive green electronic products. The project would set up and run a non-profit training centre at the premises of the Fraunhofer Institute of Silicon Technology in Itzehoe, Germany, for a three-year period. Participants were to be trained on a complete demonstration production line equipped with innovative technologies for the industrial-scale soldering of components on printed circuit boards. LEADFREE was set up to operate for the first time a complete demonstration process in line with the European Integrated Production Policy (IPP) based on the whole lifecycle of the product. Results The project set up a soldering fabrication line with latest technology to carry out training for leadfree soldering. The production trials enable SMEs to choose reliable material. Both training workshops and trials were (and continue to be) carried out and were well received by the industry: the project reached 700 companies (300 more than proposed), who participated in LEADFREE seminar activities or made use of the LEADFREE Training Line demonstration capabilities. Furthermore, the project was so successful that the project manager decided to found a new company to continue the work of the LEADFREE project as part of an education network. The hazardous substances have been significantly reduced. LEADFREE helped SMEs to make the technological transition to eliminate hazardous substances from their production and products and comply with the RoHS (2002/95/EC) and WEEE (2002/96/EC) directives and with the environmental policy strategic goals expressed by ETAP. The following results will be obtained using the project’s methodology: Indicators lead, cadmium and mercury will fall below 0.1% by weight in homogeneous material. Bromide and other halides will be reduced by halogen-free flame retardant laminates by 99%. Green house emissions will be reduced by 50-90% using VOC-free flux and controlling energy consumption. Manufacturing control will be improved as a result of better educated personnel, which is seen in reduced production defect rates and a consequent reduced need for rework/repair saving material, personnel and energy costs.The beneficiary further estimates that the know-how developped by the project would safeguard up to 6 000 jobs. In the field of competitiveness the project has shown that the change to leadfree soldering can be both environmentally and economically positive, if the focus is put on long-term efficiency. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).