Eural Gnutti has initiated a research project aimed at a transition to lead-free aluminium alloys.
The project comes after updated European Union regulatory framework, the RoHS Directive, which confirms that by 12 June 2027 the final exemption for aluminium alloys used in machining with a lead content exceeding 0.4% by weight will expire, limiting the permitted concentration to 0.1%.
This measure will have a significant impact on the European metallurgical industry: the phasing out of lead also extends to other metallic materials.
The limit values previously permitted for steel, set at 0.35%, and for copper alloys, where lead content is currently permitted up to as much as 4%, will be abolished.
Because of this, Eural Gnutti has adopted an industrial strategy by pursuing a research and development programme aimed at a gradual transition to lead-free aluminium alloys, anticipating the evolution of the European regulatory framework to guide the market towards lead-free solutions.
“The update to the RoHS Directive represents the natural formalisation of a technical and industrial process that began some time ago” said Giorgio Di Betta, Sales Director at Eural Gnutti.
“During the European consultation, we presented concrete industrial evidence, demonstrating how lead-free alloys, particularly those developed in Eural’s laboratories, are already available and widely used throughout the world, and compatible with the requirements of precision engineering, establishing themselves as technically reliable and environmentally sustainable alternatives.
“Our involvement as qualified technical stakeholders confirms the solidity of the work carried out over the years and reinforces the company’s determination to continue, with resolve, towards development characterised by responsible innovation.”
The use of lead in ferrous and non-ferrous alloys has historically been linked to the need to optimise their machinability.
As a low-melting-point element, and due to its specific distribution within the alloy, it improves chip forming by reducing friction between the material and the tool, thereby extending the tool’s service life.
Eural Gnutti’s research has led to the development of highly machinable, lead-free solutions: three complementary alloys, designed in part using a high percentage of recycled aluminium, with the aim of promoting a more efficient use of resources.
In addition to regulatory compliance, aluminium remains a strategic material from the perspective of decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness.
In a European context focused on reducing emissions and optimising resources, aluminium not only establishes itself as a material compliant with environmental directives but also demonstrates alignment with the principles of the ecological transition due to its circularity.
