RFS-Environmental-Solutions-brochure_January-2011

RFS and the Environment

At RFS, eco-sustainability is fundamental to our corporate culture. We refl ect our commitment and care for the environment through innovations in our internal operations and our products. As your partner for eco-sustainable telecoms, RFS works with you to protect our planet.

T h e C l e a r C h o i c e ®

RFS

AN

D T

HE

ENV

IRO

NM

ENT

RFS

AN

D T

HE

ENV

IRO

NM

ENT

Our focus: Responsibilities, respect, actions

Reducing our energy consumption

Heat generated by a compressor is captured and diverted to dry newly-painted products (Australia).

Solar hot water heating in washrooms and showers saves electricity (Australia).

Rapid-roller doors on manufacturing facilities improve heating and cooling retention (Australia).

Skylights, energy-effi cient lighting, improved insulation and equipment with ENERGY STAR ratings all lower energy consumption (worldwide).

Reducing our carbon footprint

Flexible-fuel cars for sales teams reduce our reliance on fossil fuels (Brazil).

More than 450 trees were planted to offset the CO2 emissions generated by RFS product deliveries (Brazil).

Worldwide operations and advanced logistical planning reduce transportation requirements for our products (worldwide).

Reusing natural resources and materials

Improved water recirculation and water treatment in the cable manufacturing process reduces water consumption (Brazil, China and United States). Sewer water reuse reduces approximately 100 m3 of sewer emissions which represents around 50 m3 of reduction of potable water consumption.

Evapoconcentration units treat the water used to wash products and facilities so that water can be reused (France and United States).

A cascade chemical rinse system reduces water consumption and discharge to sewers (Australia).

Water-soluble oil drums and drums that contained packing materials are returned to the vendor for reuse (United States).

A buy-back program encourages customers to return cable drums for reuse or recycling (Germany).

Focusing on eco-sustainable operations

Our internal actions reveal the mindset of our people: They are dedicated to caring for the environment, they use innovation to foster eco-sustainable operations and they strive for continuous improvement. Here are just a few examples of our corporate eco-sustainability initiatives around the world.

Water re-use in BrazilSolar energy solutions

RFS

AN

D T

HE

ENV

IRO

NM

ENT

RFS

AN

D T

HE

ENV

IRO

NM

ENT

Recycling production and packing materials

Copper, aluminum, brass, scrap metal and electronics leftover from manufacturing is recycled (Brazil, Germany and United States).

A UNIbin program ensures proper collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of oily and non-oily non-hazardous solid and semi-solid wastes (United States).

The wood from non-reusable cable drums returned by customers is graded and recycled and wood pallets are recycled (Brazil, Germany and United States).

At RFS, we share our customers’ commitment to caring for the environment and to keeping costs down. RFS teams around the world are actively engaged in customer and corporate initiatives that reduce our company’s impact on the environment and our customers’ costs. All of our eco-sustainability initiatives are fi rmly rooted in the “three Rs” – reducing, reusing and recycling:

We apply our engineering expertise to develop innovative new products, such as our HYBRIFLEX™ cables and DC-FIT™ converters, that help our customers reduce energy consumption and operating expenditures when upgrading cell sites.

Internally, we reuse and recycle the natural resources and materials we consume. In particular, we emphasize recycling the water, metals and wood used to produce and pack our products. We also focus on reducing energy consumption at our facilities.

As a manufacturer with global operations, we take advantage of our worldwide presence to reduce transportation requirements for our products. This allows us to lower both carbon emissions and transportation costs.

RFS also proactively adopts new materials to replace banned materials long before the mandatory dates. In Europe, RFS will replace the PVC in its products in 2011, well ahead of the European ban, which is expected in 2015.

Our vision for the future includes cellular sites powered by wind turbines and solar panels instead of electricity. We have dedicated engineering effort to ensure this vision becomes a reality.

As we expand our eco-sustainability initiatives, RFS will remain focused on recognizing our responsibilities, respecting the world in which we live and taking actions that benefi t both the environment and our customers.

RFS President’s Statement

Stéphane Klajzyngier, RFS President

Caring for the environment in all aspects of our business

Recycled wood from cable drums

Reducing energy consumption and costs at cell sites

Meeting global standards for safe environmental practices

© R

adio

Fre

qu

ency

Sys

tem

s -

02/2

011

T h e C l e a r C h o i c e ®

HYBRIFLEX™, a patent pending hybrid feeder cabling solution for RRHs HYBRIFLEX™ combines optical fi ber and DC power for RRHs in a single lightweight aluminum corrugated cable. It allows operators to connect up to three sectors with a single composite optical fi ber and power cable. The grounding function is also incorporated in the HYBRIFLEX™ cable.

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). RFS complies with RoHS requirements and is focusing on lead-free soldering to completely eliminate lead from all products.

Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). RFS complies with REACH requirements and is actively evaluating its own and its suppliers’ use of chemical substances.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001. RFS is ISO 14001-certifi ed and continues to enhance environmental management systems across its facilities.

Installing Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) close to antennas cuts power consumption – typically in half – but means RF transmission, power and grounding cables must all be brought to the RRH on the tower or rooftop. To help operators realize the full benefi ts of their RRH installations, RFS has developed two innovative offerings:

All RFS facilities are compliant with, or certifi ed to, globally-recognized environmental standards, including:

For more information, please contact the nearest RFS sales offi ce:

Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa & Indiawww.rfsworld.com/sales/semeai

Northern Europewww.rfsworld.com/sales/euno

Latin Americawww.rfsworld.com/sales/latam

North Americawww.rfsworld.com/sales/na

Asia Pacifi cwww.rfsworld.com/sales/apac www.rfsworld.com

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001. RFS is ISO 14001-certifi ed and continues to enhance environmental management systems across its facilities.

For more information, please contact the nearest RFS sales offi ce:

Latin America

With RFS’ HYBRIFLEX™ and DC-FIT™, operators can easily and cost effectively upgrade to RRH architectures. They can reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint at cell sites while benefi ting from simplifi ed installation, reduced cabling costs and reduced operational expenditures.

DC-FIT™, the world’s fi rst DC converterThe DC-FIT™ converter allows existing coaxial feeder cables to be used as RRH power supplies and as housing for the fi ber optical data connection. DC-FIT™ eliminates the time and cost of installing a new DC cable run when deploying RRHs.