Our Policy and Procedures
We are committed to protecting and preserving the environment by:
- Complying with the appropriate legislation
- Minimising discharge and emissions
- Minimising and recycling waste where possible
- Lowering energy usage
- Encouraging repair and refurbishment wherever practicable
- Purchasing packaging which is from a renewable source or able to be re-cycled
- Rating suppliers with due consideration to their environmental policies
- Developing open and constructive relations with local communities and the relevant regulatory authorities.
Lead Free Solder Project
In response to the requirements of new EU legislation "Restriction of Hazardous Substances" we have now completed a two year research and development programme to fully investigate lead free solder alternatives for PCB assembly. We decided this was necessary even though, as a supplier of military equipment we have a partial exemption in the short term.
This DTI funded project was undertaken as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between TMD and CRDM Research, a Department of Buckinghamshire Chiltern University College.
Our technical solution, which passed the initial trials, is now undergoing extended trials prior to production.
The Incredible Green-ness of Tubes!
Microwave tube based technology is inherently environmentally friendly compared to solid state - for a number of reasons:
Energy Efficiency
Calculations indicate that a TMD tube/solid state hybrid S band transmitter is >30 % efficient compared with a fully solid state equivalent which is only about 17% efficient.
(a standard light bulb is 5% - an energy saving bulb 25%)
Tube Longevity
Microwave Tubes fitted with long life dispenser cathodes tend to be reliable and long lived. Many of TMD's TWTs for the Watchman radar have clocked up over 80,000 hours hours - and are still going strong!
We were also recently told by a customer about a long range L band radar system containing a TMD tube which is still working after nearly 20 years! They also have 4 spares - none of which have been used!
Tube Re-cycling
An antidote to the throw away society, tubes respond well to repair and salvage (unlike solid state systems) and this is often a very cost effective solution for the customer.
TMD operates an evaluation and repair service for its own and other manufacturers' tubes ranging from minor repairs to more major operations such as a re-gun. The latter may incorporate an upgrade - for example conversion from an oxide to more reliable dispenser cathode.
Reduced Obsolescence Issues
Tube based systems don't suffer the same problems of obsolescence as solid state devices where the technology evolves very rapidly; often causing equipment owners expense and inconvenience.
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