wave soldering

Have you ever heard of solder dross? If you use wave soldering to assemble PCBs, it's likely that you're quite familiar with this chunky layer of metal that collects on the surface of the molten solder. Solder dross is composed of oxidized metals and impurities that occur as the molten solder contacts the air and the manufacturing environment. Unfortunately, this process often results in up to 50% of the bar solder being consumed by solder dross. But what many people don't realize is that solder dross is more than 90% valuable metal. In the past, it was simply collected as waste and disposed of. However, today, we at Indium Corporation believe that the value of the recovered metal should be reclaimed. That's why we offer two different programs for recycling solder dross. The first program simply involves sending back the dross waste in exchange for a portion of its metal value as a credit. The second option is even more innovative. With this program, you send back the dross to us, and we convert it into usable bar solder within the original spec. You only pay a fee for processing, and you get back a valuable and usable material in exchange. Regardless of which program you choose, the dross is electrolytically refined, and the pure metals are recovered and converted back into usable bar solder. In fact, oftentimes, this recycled metal has an even better purity than virgin metal. And it's not just dross that can be recycled. If you're changing to a different alloy during wave soldering, the entire solder pot will need to be emptied. The old alloy can be collected and recycled, which can save you money when you switch to a new alloy. Additionally, bar solder and wire that have not been used within the shelf life can also be recycled to reclaim some of their value. At Indium Corporation, we believe in minimizing waste and maximizing resources. That's why we're committed to helping our customers recover the value of their solder dross and other unused materials. Contact us today to learn more about our recycling programs!