Technical Milestones

Indium Corporation’s story begins long before its founders formed a company in 1934.

In 1863, the element “indium” was discovered by F. Reich and T. Richter while at the Freiburg School of Mines, Germany.

Post their discover, scientists William S. Murray and Daniel Gray studied indium in hopes of discovering a way to process the metal and find a use for it. After their success, they filed for multiple patents, including processes for obtaining and refining indium and zinc, electrodepositing and recovering indium, as well as performing research on the zero-gravity refining process in outer space.

Their research and patents led to the founding of Indium Corporation. Since its founding, Indium Corporation has driven technological innovations, from aviation to cell phones to aerospace, that lead to industry advancements and exceed customer expectations.


2022

September 22

Indium Corporation receives the Electronics Maker Leadership Award.

Indium Corporation earns the Best Electronics Assembly Materials Manufacturer of the Year, a Leadership Category Award from Electronics Maker.

2021

December 15

Indium Corporation of South Korea receives the “10 Million Dollar Export Tower” award from the Korea International Trade Association on the 58th Annual Trade Day.

December 13

Indium Corporation of South Korea receives the “Contribution Recognition Award” from the Cheongju City Mayor.

March 1

Indium Corporation’s “Indium Advanced Materials GmbH” acquires Solder Chemistry of Landshut, Germany.

January 5

Indium Corporation (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., a trading facility, opens in Malaysia.

2020

June 3

“Indium Corporation (Malaysia) SDN. BHD.” is officially registered in Malaysia.

June 2

Indium Corporation officially relocates its global headquarters from 34 Robinson Road, Clinton, NY, U.S.A. to 301 Woods Park Drive, Clinton, NY, U.S.A.

February

Indium Corporation initiated the “Keep Our People Safe and Our Factories Operating” initiative in conjunction with the Manufacturers’ Association of Central New York. This highly successful regional program assured that Indium Corporation, and many other manufacturing companies, remained in operation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

    January 7

    Indium Corporation of India completes their first commercial shipment.


    2019

    November 11

    Indium Corporation’s new global ERP system goes live.

    Indium Corporation’s Asia-Pacific Operations (Singapore) expands its space for operations.

    Indium Corporation of Suzhou doubles its floor space to accommodate production growth.

      February

      Indium Corporation earns the IATF 16949 certification for its Milton-Keynes, UK, Singapore, and Shuzhou, PRC, locations.

      2018

      October

      Indium Corporation earns the prestigious SMTA Corporate Partnership Award during SMTA International 2018. The award recognizes not only Indium Corporation’s contributions to the SMTA, but also the industry at-large.

      May

      Indium Corporation earns the Electronics Manufacturing (EM) Asia Innovation Award for its Indium10.1HF Solder Paste during NEPCON China 2018.

      Indium Corporation launches a mobile-friendly version of its website specifically designed for the Chinese market, www.indiumchina.cn.

        May 3

        Indium Corporation receives a Mohawk Valley Legacy Award for its generational role in the growth of the Mohawk Valley.

        April 24

        Indium Corporation receives the SMT China Vision Award for its Indium10.1HF Solder Paste during NEPCON China.

        April

        Indium Corporation earns the ON Semiconductor Award for its “perfect quality” in 2017. Indium Corporation, one of more than 3,000 ON Semiconductor production suppliers, was selected for its commitment to ensuring high quality and supply continuity in an evolving semiconductor market.

        February 27

        Indium Corporation receives the Circuits Assembly New Product Introduction (NPI) Award for its Core 230-RC Flux-Cored Wire at the IPC APEX Expo technical conference.

        January

        Indium Corporation earns ISO/TS 16949 management system certificates for its Business Park Drive facility in Utica, N.Y., and its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Clinton, N.Y.

        2017

        November

        Indium Corporation promotes Greg Evans to CEO, and Ross Berntson to President and COO. Former CEO and company owner William N. Macartney III continues serving as the Chairman of the Board.

        February

        Indium Corporation receives the Circuits Assembly Service Excellence Award for Materials during the IPC APEX EXPO technical conference from February 14-16, 2017 in San Diego, California.

        May

        Indium Corporation and Yunnan Tin Group Company Limited enter into a strategic technology and materials partnership to supply indium-based products to the Chinese electronics and flat panel display (FPD) production markets.

        2016

        December

        Indium Corporation releases a new solder research kit designed for soldering to gold using indium-based alloys.

        October

        Indium Corporation wins the Global Technology Award for Indium10.1HF Solder Paste at SMTA International Conference in Rosemont, Illinois.

        August

        Indium Corporation receives Perfect Quality Award from ON Semiconductor for its “perfect” quality in 2015.

        2015

        July

        First commissioned on July 12, 1995, Indium Corporation’s Asia-Pacific Operations celebrates 20 years of service and supply to the global electronics, semiconductor, thin-film, and thermal management markets.

        February 24

        Indium Corporation receives Circuit Assembly’s NPI Award for its LV1000 Flux Coating for Solder Preforms at the IPC APEX Expo 2015 in San Diego, California.

        2014

        September 30

        Indium Corporation receives the Global Technology Award for its BiAgX® Solder Paste at SMTA International in Rosemont, Illinois.

        September

        Indium Corporation announces new EZ-Pour® Gallium Trichloride.

        April 15

        Indium Corporation President and COO Greg Evans receives the 2014 Cheongju City Businessman Award in Cheongju, South Korea.

        March 13

        March 13

        Indium Corporation celebrates 80 years in business. The day is proclaimed Indium Corporation Day in Oneida County, and in the cities of Rome and Utica, N.Y.

        March

        Indium Corporation celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Live@APEX program.

        2013

        August 5

        Indium Corporation commences initial operations in Rome, NY, U.S.A, starting with germanium recovery.

        2012

        December 16

        Oneida-Herkimer-Madison County BOCES School and Business Alliance honors Indium Corporation with the Shining Star Company Award for its conscientious approach to providing quality job-shadowing experiences.

        July 19

        Indium Corporation purchases a manufacturing building at 5836 Success Drive, Rome, NY, U.S.A.

        2011

        November 8

        Indium Corporation earns the Frost & Sullivan 2011 Global Customer Value Enhancement Award in the Surface Mount Technology Solder Paste market.

        April 26

        SMTA China names Indium Corporation “Member Sponsor of the Year” for their support in organizing conferences, as well as providing training and teaching.


        2009

        October 8

        Indium Corporation is presented with Intel’s Quality Operating System Award for their performance during the first two quarters of 2009.

        September 18

        Indium Corporation acquires the processes, equipment, and know-how of Reactive NanoTechnologies, Inc. (RNT), the developer and manufacturer of NanoFoil®.

        2008

        November 24

        Operations commence at Indium Corporation’s Cheongju, South Korea facility.

        April

        Indium Corporation earns the SMT China Vision Award for Indium8.9 Pb-Free, Air-Reflow, No-Clean Solder Paste.

        March 18

        Intel Corporation awards Indium Corporation their 2007 Preferred Quality Supplier (PQS) Award for its thermal interface materials.

        2007

        December 7

        Indium Corporation is named Business of the Year by the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce.

        November 29

        Indium Corporation purchases a manufacturing facility located at 111 Business Park Drive in Utica, NY, U.S.A.

        October 25

        Indium Corporation is presented with Intel’s prestigious ATGM Supplier QOS+ (Quality Operating System +) Award for the 2nd quarter of 2007.

        October 10

        Director of Marketing Communications Rick Short is honored with the SMTA Excellence in International Leadership Award.

        June 14

        Indium Corporation earns the BMA Pro-Comm Award (Best of Division) in the online category for the electronics assembly industry’s first online video advertisement. The multi-ad series, “Indium Corporation: We Know SMT Inside and Out”, depicts Indium Corporation’s dedication to thoroughly understanding the SMT manufacturing process.

        January 29

        Indium Corporation’s Asia-Pacific manufacturing facility expansion project is completed.

        2006

        Indium Corporation earns the Global Technology Award for Solder Paste (Indium5.1AT) from Global SMT & Packaging Magazine at ATExpo 2006 in Rosemont, IL, U.S.A..

        Indium Corporation receives the SMT China Magazine VISION Award for Indium5.1AT Pb-Free Solder Paste during NEPCON China.

        Indium Corporation earns the EMAsia Magazine Innovation Award for Indium5.1AT Pb-Free Solder Paste during NEPCON China.

        September 25

        Indium Corporation’s Chicago Manufacturing Operations is commissioned.

        September 18

        Indium Corporation earns the Frost & Sullivan Solder Paste Customer Value Enhancement Award.

        April 19

        Indium Corporation opens a sales office in Shenzhen, PRC.

        March 13

        Indium Corporation is presented with Intel’s prestigious ATGM Supplier QOS+ (Quality Operating System +) Award in 2006.

        2006

        Indium Corporation earns the Vision Award for our No-Flow Underfill (NF260) by SMT Magazine at APEX 2006.

        Indium Corporation receives the Innovation Award for our No-Flow Underfill (NF260) by EMAsia Magazine at NEPCON China 2006 in Shanghai.

        2005

        Indium Corporation earns the Global Technology Award for No-Flow Underfill (NF260) from Global SMT & Packaging Magazine at Productronica 2005 in Munich.

        September 27 

        Indium Corporation President Greg Evans is honored with the SMTA Founder’s Award.

        September 22 

        The joint venture contract for Indium Corporation Liuzhou, China, is officially sealed at a signing ceremony held at Liuzhou city offices.

        February 28 

        Indium Corporation publishes its first blog post, authored by Director of Marketing Communications, Rick Short.

        January 1 

        Brian Craig assumes the role of Managing Director at Indium Corporation of Europe.

        2004

        January 7 

        Indium Corporation commissions PRC Operations in Suzhou.

        2003

        September

        Indium Corporation Senior Technologist Dr. Ronald C. Lasky earns the SMTA Founder’s Award.

        2002 & 2003

        The Gillette Company honors Indium Corporation with their Omnimark Award twice for outstanding performance in quality and service for work as a supplier to Duracell Battery in 2002 and 2003.

        2002

        Indium Corporation receives the 2002 Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award for the development of NC-SMQ230 Pb-Free solder paste.

        Indium Corporation establishes large-scale tape & reel solder preform packaging capabilities.

          September

          Dr. Ning-Cheng Lee is honored as the SMTA Member of Distinction.

          June 10 

          Indium Corporation’s first e-commerce order is received for indium alloy ribbon.

          2001

          February 26

          Germanium Corporation of America purchases assets from Cabot Performance Materials Corporation and begins operations.

          February 7

          Indium Corporation ships its first refrigerated container of solder paste from Singapore to Shenzhen, PRC.

          2000

          Indium Corporation earns a Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Customer Service Leadership Award for developments in the solder paste and adhesive markets.

          April 10

          Indium Corporation of Europe makes its first product shipment.


          1998

          November

          Indium Corporation of Europe re-locates to Milton Keynes, England.

          September 18

          Indium Corporation earns a Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Customer Service Leadership Award for developments in the solder paste and adhesive markets.

          1997

          September 1

          Greg Evans is named President of Indium Corporation.

          1995

          October 6

          The company’s first website is published at www.indium.com.

          July 12

          Indium Corporation’s Asia-Pacific Operations is commissioned in Singapore.

          1994

          March

          An Indium Corporation office is opened in Torino, Italy, to facilitate commercial indium trading.

          1992

          Integrated® Solder Preforms are developed and introduced.

          December 6

          Indium Corporation relocates corporate headquarters to Robinson Road in Clinton, NY, U.S.A.

          May

          ASM International publishes an updated compendium of indium alloy phase diagrams. This work is edited by Charles E.T. White of Indium Corporation.

          1991

          October 1

          The United States patent office issues a patent for “Method of Forming a Gasket of Indium and Braid.” This patent describes a method of manufacturing a reinforced gasket material known as InFORMS®.

          1990

          February 1

          Indium Corporation of Europe is founded.


          1989-1990

          February 1

          Indium Corporation participates in experiments in outer space: Indium Float Zone Purification Experiment (in conjunction with Rockwell International) aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Mission STS-30, Atlantis; Microgravity Disturbances Experiment aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Mission STS-32, Columbia.

          1989

          Indium Corporation designs, builds, and installs semi-continuous inorganic compound process equipment.

          1987

          Indium Corporation’s Electronics Chemicals Division is established.

          1986

          Indium Corporation establishes a formal research and development department for solder research.

          1985

          December

          Motorola honors Indium Corporation with their Motorola Semiconductor Products Vendor Recognition Award.

          July

          The Indium Corporation establishes a manufacturing facility at Robinson Road in Clinton, NY, U.S.A. Our first solder powder is atomized.

          1982

          October

          Indium Corporation develops manufacturing capabilities for spherical solder powder production.

          1981

          Charles E.T. White is elected Executive Vice President of Indium Corporation.

          December 31

          J. Robert Dyer, Jr. retires.


          1977

          Indium Corporation commences development work to produce solder pastes.

          1976

          April 4

          William N. Macartney, Jr. retires.

          1970

          William N. Macartney, III is named President of Indium Corporation.


          1967

          William N. Macartney, III joins Indium Corporation as Director.

          1966

          William N. Macartney, III joins Indium Corporation as Director.

          1960

          August 16

          William N. Macartney, Jr. acquires Indium Corporation.

          1960

          Indium Corporation is cited by the United States Bureau of Mines in their Mineral Facts and Problems: Bulletin 585, 1960 Edition. The article discusses the history of the discovery of indium, the search for indium metal in the USA, and uses for indium.

          1960-1965

          Indium Corporation develops indium inorganic compounds, including: indium oxide, indium-tin oxide, indium chloride, and indium hydroxide.


          1959

          October 27

          The United States patent office issues a patent for “Printing Circuits and Method of Soldering the Same.” This invention offers improvements to the process of soldering to printed circuit boards via enhancing the solderability and soldering of component leads and circuit board conductors.

          1958

          October 21

          The United States patent office issues the official registration for the trademark “Indalloy®.”

          1956

          October 21

          Indium Corporation publishes the first compendium of indium alloy phase diagrams.

          1953

          Dr. William S. Murray is granted a patent for “motor fuel additive.” The patent covers an additive to fuel that claims to improve the efficiency of the motor while reducing the deposition of carbon and sticking of valves during combustion.

          1952

          Indium Corporation develops a commercially-viable process for the manufacture of precision solder preforms, enabling the mass production of alloy-junction transistors.

          1950

          “Indium: Discovery, Occurrence, Development, Physical & Chemical Characteristics” is compiled and published by Indium Corporation’s Maria T. Ludwick.


          1943

          A manufacturing facility is established at Lincoln Avenue in Utica, NY, U.S.A.

          October 23

          Business Week publishes a review outlining the many military and industrial contributions of Indium Corporation.

          July 27

          The Wall Street Journal features a story on Indium Corporation.

          January 26

          Indium Corporation trademarks its “Pioneers In Element 49” logo, which has been in continuous use since 1941.

          1942

          Indium metal is used to plate 1942 Studebaker automobile bumpers.

          November 16

          Indium Corporation and William S. Murray are featured in a TIME MAGAZINE article.

          November 12

          Indium Corporation is awarded the prestigious Army/Navy “E” Award for manufacturing excellence.

          1941

          A company development laboratory is opened in New York City. Work is commissioned by the U.S. Bureau of Conservation of Materials.

          1940

          Indium Corporation opens a New York City office to support market development and promotional efforts.


          1939

          Colgate University awards a doctor of science degree to William S. Murray for developing commercial uses of indium.

          1938

          J. Robert Dyer, Jr. develops the process technology and plates the first indium-treated aircraft engine bearing.

          1934

          March 13

          Indium Corporation (originally known as The Indium Corporation of America) is founded in Utica, New York, USA.
          President: Dr. William S. Murray,
          Vice-President: J. Robert Dyer, Jr.,
          Technical Director: Daniel Gray.
          805 Watson Place, Utica, NY.