While Indium Corporation is well-known as a solder supplier, it is less known for its ability to recycle solder. Indium Corporation’s solder reclaim program uses state-of-the-art electrolytic processes that remove both organic and metallic impurities from contaminated tin-lead and lead-free solder and solder dross.
As my colleague Brook Sandy-Smith explained in a blog post from the last time the Green Bay Packers won a Super Bowl, "solder dross is composed of oxidized metals and impurities that collect as the molten solder makes contact with the air and the manufacturing equipment." This is a normal part of the wave soldering process, but the unused materials do not have to be a total loss. In fact, solder dross can contain as much as 90% valuable metal - so why wouldn’t you want to get your value back out of that expired metal?
By now I assume you’re thinking, “You know what, Rob – you’re absolutely right. I should be getting the full value out of the metal I’ve already purchased…but how?” Our Assured Recycling Program is a service that might be the answer you’re looking for.
Within this program, Indium Corporation will purchase solder dross and contaminated solder based on the amount of valuable metal within the dross. The flow chart below provides a visual representation of how Indium Corporation will take in the metal and then either issue you a payment or a credit.
To learn more about this program, including what materials are acceptable or unacceptable, pricing, and instructions on how to ship the contaminated solder and solder dross, please visit this link: http://www.indium.com/reclaim-and-recycle/solders/. You can also contact me directly at rmckerrow@indium.com.