Intel announces that their next generation processors will be entirely Pb-free. Intel has been hinting for the past year that it will move to discontinue it’s Pb-based manufacturing. The next generation processors will be available only with Pb-free terminations/balls and will not require the Pb in flip-chip exemption that has been used throughout the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Intel also plans to discontinue its existing Pb-based products, but has not set a specific date.