Case Study: 6,000 Custom 0.05 mm Indium Sheets Delivered to Spain

MetalsTek manufactured and delivered 6,000 custom indium sheets, each specified at just 0.05 mm thick, to an engineering customer in Spain. To support the production run, we developed dedicated tooling for the soft, adhesive material and provided individual protective packaging for the finished parts.

The high purity indium order required consistent parts across the batch, careful handling, and coordinated export preparation. Customer identity and exact dimensions remain confidential.

Project at a Glance

At this thickness, the material is commonly described as indium foil. It was supplied here as individual custom parts. Explore MetalsTek’s indium sheet and foil options for material forms and related requirements.

Why 0.05 mm Indium Foil Requires Careful Processing

Indium is a soft, malleable metal. These characteristics make it useful where a metal must conform to a surface, but they also complicate manufacturing and handling. Thin material can bend, stretch, wrinkle, or pick up surface marks. It can also adhere to contacting surfaces during processing.

For this ultra-thin indium sheet project, the challenge extended beyond achieving nominal thickness. The finished parts also needed consistent geometry and acceptable edges and surfaces. A handling step that appears minor with a stiffer metal can deform a 0.05 mm foil part.

The production plan therefore had to account for shaping, separation, inspection, and packaging together. A foil part can meet its dimensional requirement and still become difficult to use if it is creased or its edges are folded during transfer. With 6,000 pieces to manufacture, controlling these transitions was an important part of the job.

Dedicated Tooling for the Custom Indium Sheet Order

MetalsTek developed dedicated tooling specifically for this production run. The tooling addressed the combination of indium’s softness, its tendency to adhere during processing, the thin section, and the required batch quantity.

Its purpose was to improve repeatability, support dimensional consistency, reduce deformation, and maintain stable edge quality. It also supported more controlled handling of the thin material throughout production.

At batch scale, a handling difficulty encountered on one part becomes a recurring production concern. Developing tooling around this order allowed the drawing-based manufacturing approach to address that repetition from the outset. Tooling structure, operating parameters, and adhesion-control methods remain proprietary.

For buyers, this is a useful point to raise when discussing a custom indium sheet order: how will the supplier maintain consistency as production moves from the first acceptable pieces to the full quantity?

Quality Control Across 6,000 Pieces

For a 6,000-piece production run, repeatability was just as important as producing the first acceptable part. The quality review focused on the features that could affect fit, handling, and condition on arrival:

• Thickness consistency against the agreed specification.
• Length and width consistency against the customer’s confidential drawing.
• Flatness and visible deformation.
• Edge and surface condition.
• Clean handling and protective packaging.

Inspection and handling needed to support one another. Checking a very soft part should not introduce damage through unnecessary contact. The review therefore included the condition of the thin parts as they moved into packaging. Acceptance criteria were tied to the project specification; requirements for another order should be agreed during technical review.

Individual Protective Packaging for Indium Foil

Individual protective packaging—also described as independent packaging—was an important part of this order. MetalsTek included packaging in the delivery plan to support the handling needs of the thin foil parts.

At 0.05 mm thickness, packaging helps preserve the work completed during manufacturing. Separating the parts limits direct contact between adjacent pieces, reducing the need to pull delicate foils apart before use. Protective pouches also help shield surfaces from incidental contact during storage and transfer.

For the receiving team, individual packaging makes it possible to access parts as needed while leaving the remaining pieces protected. This is particularly useful when a delivered batch is used progressively rather than opened and consumed at once.

The packaging approach should be discussed alongside dimensions, quantity, and material grade when specifying custom indium products. The package must suit both the fragility of the foil and the customer’s receiving and handling workflow. Buyers should state their preferred quantity per package and any additional requirements for atmosphere or cleanliness during the initial review.

Early Planning for Indium Export from China

Indium export from China required attention alongside manufacturing. China has introduced export controls involving certain indium-related items, making product-specific review important. The presence of indium in a product does not, by itself, establish the requirements for that shipment.

For this order, MetalsTek began the relevant compliance preparation during production planning. Manufacturing, quality control, export preparation, and logistics were coordinated so that shipment readiness received attention before the batch was finished. This helped reduce avoidable waiting between production completion and dispatch.

MetalsTek completed the necessary export compliance review and successfully delivered the order to Spain. For broader purchasing context, see our buyer’s guide to China dual-use export licensing. Shipment-specific requirements remain subject to review.

Successful Delivery to Spain

The project concluded with completion of the custom production run, quality review, export preparation, and delivery of 6,000 pieces to Spain. Dedicated tooling and individual packaging supported different stages of the same requirement: consistent parts that could be delivered and handled with care.

What This Project Demonstrates

This project connects material knowledge with a completed delivery: indium’s softness and adhesion tendency informed dedicated tooling; quality review supported the 6,000-piece batch; and individual packaging helped protect the thin parts. Early coordination of production and export preparation supported delivery to Spain.

For buyers selecting an indium sheet manufacturer or an indium supplier for Europe, these are practical capabilities to assess together: custom production, batch consistency, protective packaging, and international delivery planning.

Questions Buyers Ask About Custom Indium Foil

Can you manufacture 0.05 mm indium foil in custom sizes?

Yes. This project demonstrates a completed 6,000-piece order at 0.05 mm thickness. For a new part, send your dimensions, geometry, tolerances, quantity, and handling requirements so our team can assess the production approach.

Can indium foil be individually packaged?

Yes. Individual protective packaging was part of this project. For a new order, confirm the required pack quantity and how the parts will be received, stored, and used so the packaging arrangement can be specified accordingly.

Can MetalsTek supply engineering customers in Europe?

This order was successfully delivered to Spain. Buyers evaluating an indium supplier for European delivery can submit their destination and product requirements for review. Manufacturing feasibility and shipment requirements are assessed for the particular order.

Need Custom Indium Sheets or Foils?

For custom indium products, send MetalsTek the following details:

• Material purity and thickness.
• Width, length, and a drawing where geometry requires one.
• Required quantity and dimensional tolerances.
• Application and any critical surface or handling requirements.
• Individual packaging preferences and quantity per package.
• Destination country and requested delivery date.

Our team can assess manufacturing feasibility and international delivery requirements for your indium sheet or foil project. Whether you need 0.05 mm indium foil or another custom specification, an early technical review helps define the production and delivery scope.