April 29, 2020

MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Henkel and Heraeus take the view solder alloy products sold by Senju Metal Industry violate a joint patent.

Major suppliers in electronics assembly materials file joint patent infringement lawsuit against Senju Group

Düsseldorf, Germany – Three major suppliers in electronics assembly materials, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Henkel, and Heraeus, jointly filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd., Senju Metal Europe GmbH and Senju Manufacturing Europe S.R.O. in the district court Frankfurt. 
In their complaint the companies allege that the Senju Group infringes a patent held by MacDermid Alpha, Henkel and Heraeus related to a solder alloy formulation marketed under the brand names Innolot (MacDermid Alpha and Heraeus) and Loctite 90ISC (Henkel). The companies consider that the Senju Group infringes the patent EP 1 617 968 B1 by advertising and selling the solder alloy M794 to customers in Germany. 

By filing this lawsuit, the companies jointly demonstrate their strong commitment to the development of innovative materials for electronics assembly by defending their intellectual property assets. MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Henkel, and Heraeus currently hold joint patents in the US (US10376994B2), Europe (EP1617968B1) and Japan (JP5320556B2). 

The formulation was developed in a cooperative project to produce a lead-free solder alloy specifically for harsh environment electronics applications. The resulting products provide an improved reliability performance, compared to standard SAC alloys. The materials are designed to tolerate the demands of high-temperature applications while still being solderable at standard lead-free process temperatures, making them well suited for automotive applications. 

About Henkel
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. In 2019, Henkel reported sales of more than 20 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of more than 3.2 billion euros. Henkel employs more than 52,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose to create sustainable value, and shared values. As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. For more information, please visit www.henkel.com. 

About MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions
Through the innovation of specialty chemicals and materials under our Alpha, Kester, Compugraphics, and MacDermid Enthone brands, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions provides solutions that power electronics interconnection.  We serve all global regions and every step of device manufacturing within each segment of the electronics supply chain.  The experts in our Semiconductor Solutions, Circuitry Solutions, and Assembly Solutions divisions collaborate in design, implementation, and technical service to ensure success for our partner clients. Our solutions enable our customers’ manufacture of extraordinary electronic devices at high productivity and reduced cycle time. Find out more at MacDermidAlpha.com.

About Heraeus
The Hanau-based Heraeus technology group is one of the world's leading family-owned portfolio companies. The roots of the company, founded in 1851, go back to a pharmacy run by the family since 1660. Today, Heraeus bundles a large number of businesses in the fields of environment, energy, electronics, health, mobility, and industrial applications. In fiscal year 2018, Heraeus generated total revenues of 20.3 billion euros and employs approximately 15,000 people (including temporary workers) in 40 countries. Today, Heraeus is one of the top 10 family-owned companies in Germany and has a leading position in its global sales markets. With professional competence, excellence, a focus on innovation and an entrepreneurial management culture, we strive to continuously improve our performance. We create high-quality solutions for our customers and sustainably strengthen their competitiveness by combining unique materials expertise with technological leadership.

Contact	Sebastian Hinz
Phone	+49 211 797 8594
Email	sebastian.hinz@henkel.com