By Evan Morris, Vice President/Production

Nathan Trotter & Co. has a long and rich history in solder. Its sterling reputation and dedication to quality has kept it in business for over 225 years.

Founded on the banks of the Delaware River in 1789, Nathan Trotter & Co. was first known as a metal-importing company. Nathan Trotter himself provided tin to Colonial craftspeople who turned it into pewter. Today, more than 225 years later, the company has evolved into the largest manufacturer of tin and tin alloys in North America, preserving its legacy as the oldest continuously-operated metals manufacturer in the United States. Derived from its expertise with tin, Nathan Trotter has become a leading source of solder, with a growing solder recycling program and a steadfast tradition of exceptional customer service, industry-leading metallurgical expertise, and competitive pricing. As the business and its solder products continually evolve, the company’s attention to detail, responsive service, and dependability have not waivered, earning more than two centuries of business and recognition

Its impressive list of customers, including Fortune 500 leaders, know that the company will use its metallurgical expertise to meet increased customer demands at the highest level of quality and the lowest possible cost.
“We know solder, and have for hundreds of years,” said Ben Etherington, VP of Operations at Nathan Trotter & Co. “But providing a high-quality solder at a valued price point is what really sets us apart from the competition.”

Etherington continued to say that the company is able to leverage its large tin volume for favorable raw material pricing resulting in a more competitively priced solder bar.

The company’s headquarters; a 45,000 sq. ft. facility in Coatesville, PA, has evolved into the largest manufacturer of tin and tin alloys in North America.

Nathan Trotter & Co. operates a 45,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Coatesville, PA, along with a 40,000 sq ft reclaim facility nearby in West Chester, PA. From these facilities, the company provides its key services of manufacturing, solder recycling, and laboratory.

Manufacturing: Nathan Trotter & Co. maintains unparalleled flexibility and capacity to manufacture solder to exacting customer demands. Consistent purity levels and adherence to customers’ product specifications are among the company’s top priorities. Additionally, Nathan Trotter has been ISO 9001:2000-certified since 1997 and internationally recognized for quality, safety, and delivery.

With both extruded and cast bar capabilities, Nathan Trotter & Co. offers a range of manufacturing options to meet customers’ specific requirements. Etherington added, “We use conflict-free, high-quality metals for all alloys.”

Tin Technology and Refining, the reclamation division of Nathan Trotter, provides maximum value for solder scrap.

Solder Recycling: Tin Technology and Refining is the recycling/reclaim division of Nathan Trotter.  Tin Tech works in conjunction with Nathan Trotter solder bar customers and other generators of tin-based scrap to recycle dross, drippings, residues, paste, and other solder scrap that is generated from the use of solder. Tin Tech operates as a DEP-permitted, environmentally-responsible smelter with full reduction capabilities enabling optimal recoveries for all types of solder scrap material.

The company also offers flexible metal reclaim programs tailored to customers’ individual preferences. Customers can receive monetary payment based on the current market value and recoverability of material. As an alternative to payment, Nathan Trotter offers a solder “swap” program to exchange scrap for new solder bar.

The in-house lab is state-of-the-art and contains advanced OES equipment to allow precise chemistry testing of all solder alloys.

Laboratory: Nathan Trotter & Co.’s in-house lab is comprised of state-of-the-art XRF and Optical Emissions Spectrometry (OES) equipment, which enables precise chemistry testing of all solder alloys and ensures adherence to required specifications. A certificate of analysis is provided with each order.

In conjunction with the use of Nathan Trotter solder bar, the company offers a complimentary solder pot analysis program to ensure the user’s application remains at optimal chemistry. Capabilities include testing to a full chemical analysis, specification, or on an elemental basis down to the single ppm. Samples typically are turned around within three business days with same-day expedited testing available.

Etherington concluded, “Nathan Trotter is proud to have a strong foundation and history, great experience from which to draw, and longstanding industry relationships that will help us move into the future with confidence. The time-honored values, continuous pursuit of innovation, and commitment to partner with our customers that have characterized Nathan Trotter for the last two centuries will remain a cornerstone of the business.”

For more information about Nathan Trotter & Co., Inc., contact Ben Etherington/ VP Operations at 241 W. Stewart Huston Dr., Coatesville, PA 19320; 610-524-1440; E-mail: ; Web sites: www.nathantrotter.com, www.tintech.com.