‘A Legacy of Innovation’
Indium Corporation celebrates its 90th anniversary with a look at its past and future innovations.
by Tyler Hanes
A sense of curiosity and discovery drove the founding of Indium Corp. in the early 1930s, and that continued drive to innovate has carried the company to success over the past 90 years of its existence – leading it to become a premier manufacturer and supplier for the PCB, semiconductor and thermal management industries.
After reaching the 90th anniversary milestone this year, the company is celebrating with the theme of “A Legacy of Innovation Fueled by Curiosity,” meant to reflect the technological breakthroughs and the people who have fueled them.
Indium was founded in 1934 as The Indium Corporation of America by William S. Murray, who sought to identify and enable the first commercial applications for indium metal, and the company’s metal was included in Studebaker automobile bumpers in 1942.
In 1952, Indium developed a commercially viable process for the manufacture of precision solder preforms, which enabled mass production of alloy-junction transistors. In the late ’70s, it began development of solder pastes, which soon emerged as a core pillar of the company.
In 1989, the company participated in experiments aboard multiple space shuttle missions, and entering the 1990s, it developed a number of innovations, including a no-clean solder paste that would quickly become an industry standard.
In the 2000s came advances in solder alloy technology, thermal interface materials, and semiconductor packaging materials innovations, and today, the company has grown to have 16 facilities in India, China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, the UK and the US, which all help carry out Indium’s mission of supplying the global electronics supply chain.
President and COO Ross Bernston, who joined the company as an engineer in the 1990s, said the company credits its growth and advances to its continued engagement with the global industry, as well as its commitment to R&D, which has allowed Indium to foresee industry trends and respond with innovative solutions – including new products to address the growing trend of miniaturization.
He said Indium has also used its 60-plus years of experience in manufacturing gallium-based liquid metals to develop high-performance liquid metal-based TIMs, which are supporting growing needs in high-performance computing for AI and IoT.
“Technological advancements are continuing at a rapid pace,” Bernston said. “For example, the current advent of AI technology has created an even greater, more immediate need for thermal interface materials.”
More than anything, Indium Corp. places a priority on its engagement with customers through its technical support and consultation, Bernston said, and providing that level of engagement and support is the No. 1 piece of advice the company would offer for those who are looking to build their own long-lasting enterprise.
“We pride ourselves on being more than a materials supplier or manufacturer but a strategic partner to increase our customers’ productivity and profitability through the design, application, and service of our advanced materials,” he said.
With governments and companies taking steps to reduce their carbon footprints, Indium has also worked to adopt energy-saving processes and sustainable practices to remain competitive in the international marketplace.
“Our product portfolio and company practices are a direct reflection of our own commitment to environmental sustainability,” Bernston said.
Some of the more recent developments on that front include its low-temperature alloy technologies, which reduce energy consumption by enabling lower processing temperatures in preform soldering and by permitting reflow ovens to run at lower temperatures.
Looking to the future also includes educating and training the next generation of workers, and Bernston said Indium has contributed to that effort by supporting schools and community organizations that are introducing students to the opportunities in STEM fields.
The company estimates that it impacts more than 5,000 students annually through those efforts, and its college internship program has launched the careers of more than 100 college students in STEM fields since 2012.
Bernston said Indium also offers an apprenticeship program and assistance to support employees learning new skills and pursuing degree programs.
While it’s taking the time to look back on 90 years of history, Indium is also looking to its future to make sure that it is able to continue its legacy of innovation and discovery.
“I am very excited for what the future holds as I truly believe the best days for Indium Corporation are still ahead of us,” Bernston said. “We have some of the most brilliant minds in the electronics industry and, by preserving the special culture we’ve built here, I believe we will continue to attract the very best talent to lead us into the future and continue our legacy of innovation.”
Tyler Hanes is managing editor of PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY; tyler@pcea.net.
