This is a question that here in Ambrovit we hear more and more often from our customers and the answer is: yes, the Cr6 finish (Hexavalent Chromium) is forbidden and has been replaced by the Zinc Cr3 finish. But we want to reassure who reads us that all the screws and bolts, which come out of our warehouse, are healthy and environmentally conform with every Directive.

For several years, Hexavalent Chromium was the most common method used to coat various steel components, with the aim of protecting them from corrosion.
The European Regulation no. 1907 of 2006 contains the first reference to Hexavalent Chromium and in Annex n.16 -348 of 2013 contains the Regulation according to the European Community bans the use of this substance in all European countries

This directive regulates, restricts and forbids the use of all substances considered to be dangerous for the environment and above all toxic for humans. The EU Regulation therefore established the deadline for the placing on the market of all galvanized products with Hexavalent Chromium on 21st September 2017.

Everything that has been produced before this date can be salable and disposed of. Ambrovit, which has always been sensitive to these problems, has long since begun to supply its own warehouse of products with Zinc Cr3 finish (Trivalent Chromium).

Nowadays it owns 80% of salable products already compliant with the current Regulation, the rest is being disposed of.

The Regulation requires that no product can be made using Hexavalent Chromium. This means reviewing all production standards using only Trivalent Chromium, with consequent and unavoidable price increases.
The Hexavalent Chromium in fact allowed a greater yield with less costs and lower prices.

Unfortunately, a large part of the European market has not yet aligned with this Directive. In fact, many companies circumvent the obstacle by importing from countries where this prohibition is not yet in place, using misleading terminologies in the description of their products.

This behavior creates unfair competition against those companies that have made enormous sacrifices, even economic ones, to comply with European rules.

The Zinc Cr3 finish (Trivalent Chromium), compared to a quality substantially equal to that of Hexavalent Chrome, is not toxic or dangerous in any way and falls within law parameters. Another fundamental aspect is that it offers a colour rendering (yellow) almost identical to the previous one, to ensure a uniform aesthetic.

All the Ambrovit products in the catalog comply with the European RoHS Directive, (acronym for Restriction of Hazardous Substances), and this also implies the transition from hexavalent chromium to Trivalent Chromium.

If you need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our sales office is always at your disposal.