A continually refined surface plating option

Industrial Tin Reflow Plating enjoys a long heritage of industry-aiding success that continues to evolve. In fact, pure tin plating has been used since the early 20th century, with the specialized tin reflow process used today being developed in the late 20th/early 21st century. This advancement was spurred in large part to address RoHS environmental rules. Over the past two decades, plating experts have refined the Reflow step with modern equipment to produce consistent, stress-free tin deposits with many desirable qualities.

How and why Industrial Tin Reflow Plating can compete

Tin Reflow achieves performance-enhancing finishes by combining an electroplated tin layer with a controlled heat “reflow.” This means the tin is heated above its melting point and then cooled to relieve internal stress and improve solderability.

Because of the relatively low cost of tin compared with other metals, tin reflow plating offers excellent performance at a modest price. But despite its relatively low cost, tin reflow should not be underestimated. Industry observers reference tin plating as “an underdog with a lot to offer!”

An affordable option for performance-dependent Industries

Here’s a look at how international business sector harness the benefits this reliable surface finish.

Aerospace and Defense: Mission-critical performance under extreme conditions

Aerospace and defense systems demand plating that maintains electrical integrity and corrosion resistance through wide temperature swings, vibration, and long service life. Tin reflow plating can be deposited to meet MIL-T-10727 (Type I) and ASTM B545 standards, ensuring a solderable, reliability-qualified finish.

Because the reflow process produces a bright, stress-free tin layer, it is also ideal for avionics connectors, radar terminals, missile guidance contacts and other components subject to harsh environments, including:

• Avionics connectors
• Radar system terminals
• Flight control pins
• Missile guidance system contacts
• Ground support power pins
• Drone communication interfaces
• Transponder housings
• Military-grade cable terminals

Automotive and EV: High conductivity and corrosion resistance for vehicles

Automotive and electric vehicle components benefit from Industrial Tin Reflow Plating’s combination of solderability and fretting-corrosion resistance. Tin plating is known for excellent electrical conductivity, and it resists the oxidation and micro-motions common in connector contacts. Despite its low cost relative to gold or silver, tin still “gets the job done” for many automotive applications and parts, including:

• Battery contact tabs
• ECU (engine control unit) connector pins
• Electric drive connectors
• Sensor leads (e.g. throttle, brake sensors)
• Charging port contacts
• Fuse box terminals
• Lighting system plugs
• Steering column interface pins

Marine and Offshore: resisting corrosion in wet and salt-rich environments

Marine and offshore systems place extraordinary stress on connectors and sensors, where salt spray and high humidity can cause rapid corrosion. Tin reflow plating’s pure tin finish forms a thin oxide barrier that protects underlying metal and helps prevent galvanic corrosion.

Because tin plating is RoHS-compliant and does not use toxic heavy metals, it is often chosen over older finishes in green-driven marine applications. Its cost-effectiveness also makes it a practical choice for large marine-scale projects with parts that include:

• Navigation system connectors
• Under-sea
• Sensor contacts
• Control system terminals
• Sonar cable ends
• Engine monitoring plugs
• Mooring winch sensors
• GPS interface pins
• Weather station terminals

Oil & Gas: Durable, solderable finishes for hazardous environments

The oil and gas industry requires finishes that withstand vibration, chemical exposure, and safety requirements. Tin reflow plating provides a RoHS-compliant, non-toxic coating that holds up in both upstream (exploration/production) and downstream (refining/distribution) equipment. By using tin reflow, operators get reliable solder joints and long-term performance without introducing lead or other restricted substances on parts that include:

• Sensor connector pins
• Pipeline control contacts
• Valve automation terminals
• Pressure monitoring plugs
• Rig instrumentation interfaces
• Underground cable assemblies
• Flowmeter contacts
• Drilling control system pins

Electrical and Power Distribution: High conductivity and long-term reliability

Power generation and distribution systems favor tin reflow plating for its electrical conductivity and whisker-mitigation properties. A tin-plated bus bar or circuit breaker lug ensures low-resistance connections and excellent solderability. Because tin finishes (both matte and bright) are inherently RoHS-compliant, they meet modern regulatory standards (including REACH) without special alloys. The reflow step in particular helps suppress tin whisker growth, making the finish dependable in transformers, switchgear, and substation equipment that includes:

• Circuit breaker terminals
• Bus bar connectors
• Power relay contacts
• Transformer windings
• Terminal lugs
• PCB mounting tabs
• Grounding connectors
• Distribution panel plugs

Medical Devices: Safe, stable plating for life-saving technology

Medical electronics demand biocompatible, non-contaminating finishes. The non toxic properties of tin provide safe use even for food-safe applications. Because of this,tin reflow plating is also well-suited to medical sensors, implants, and equipment. It performs reliably and predictably in sterilized and performance-dependent environments, making tin reflow a strong choice for both disposable and medical implant devices. Surgeons and patients benefit from the clean, solderable contacts it offers for:

• Sensor leads (e.g. temperature, pressure sensors)
• ECG (electrocardiogram) terminal pins
• Infusion pump contacts
• Implantable battery tabs
• Surgical tool interfaces
• Hearing aid contacts
• Monitoring cable pins
• Diagnostic probe ends

Battery & Telecom: Essential compact connectivity in high-performance systems

Battery management and telecom infrastructure require efficient, low-resistance interconnects. Tin’s conductivity and solderability enable automated assembly of battery packs and compact telecom modules. In battery systems (like lithium-ion cells), tin-plated tabs help deliver current without heavy precious metals. In 5G and networking equipment, tin reflow–plated pins and connectors ensure signal clarity and reliable power. Across these applications, tin’s balance of performance and cost-effectiveness shines.

• Battery management terminals
• Lithium-ion cell tabs
• 5G antenna connectors
• Network interface pins
• Power supply leads
• Fiber optic switch contacts
• UPS terminal pins
• Communication module boards

Industry leaders trust Tin Reflow – and Summit

Industrial Tin Reflow Electroplating really does deliver consistent, economical, high-performance results to many important industry sectors. And at Summit Plating, we bring decades of proven experience administering this plating process to those sectors while maintaining exact thickness, adhesion, and purity specifications.

As a result, Summit is a respected vendor of choice for manufacturers needing to meet strict regulatory, environmental, and technical standards that include RoHS, REACH, MIL specs, and more. Contact us today to learn how Summit’s Industrial Tin Reflow Plating advantages could benefit your next high-reliability project.