Columbia Tech Commits to Environmentally and Socially Responsible Manufacturing

WORCESTER, Mass., March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Tech, a contract manufacturing division of Coghlin Companies, has stated that they are committed to social and environmental responsibility in their supply chain in regards to conflict minerals and the Conflict Region. There has been increased awareness of violence and human right violations in the mining of certain minerals from the "Conflict Region", an area in the eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries. The Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) has created a Supplier Code of Conduct and a common means to collect information on the source of the 3TG (tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold). Their position is that companies should undertake due diligence with their supply chain to assure that specified metals are not being sourced from mines in the Conflict Region, which is controlled by non-government military groups, or unlawful military factions.    

"Columbia Tech supports the actions of the EICC and GeSI and is obtaining information from our current metal suppliers concerning the origin of the metals that are used in Columbia Tech's manufacturing operations," stated Richard Schulman, Vice President of Quality at Columbia Tech. He continued, "Based upon current information provided by our suppliers, Columbia Tech does not knowingly use any metals derived from the Conflict Region in our manufacturing or product development activities."    

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released the rules for Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that require U.S. publicly traded companies to make certain disclosures related to the 3TG used in their products. Columbia Tech conducts commerce with publicly traded companies who are committed to adhering to these requirements.    

About Coghlin Companies
Coghlin Companies, Inc. is a privately held company specializing in helping companies cost effectively improve their time-to-market. Based in Worcester, Massachusetts, Coghlin Companies spans four generations representing more than 128 years of manufacturing experience and leadership. Subsidiaries include: Columbia Tech, which provides turnkey manufacturing services to a diverse customer base, including OEMs in the bio-science, semiconductor, LED, medical device, green energy technology, data storage, and automation systems and controls industries; DCI Engineering, an engineering design and pre-production support services company; and Cogmedix, an FDA compliant and ISO 13485 certified medical subassembly and finished medical device contract manufacturer.

SOURCE Coghlin Companies