IMI Celebrates 50th Anniversary

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IMI, Inc. the specialty fabricator of printed circuit boards and substrates announced that the company celebrates its 50th anniversary in May 2021 making it one of the oldest circuit board fabricators in America.

Founded as Integrated Memories Incorporated in 1971 by several successful Boston area entrepreneurs led by William McConnell, the company was originally an OEM producer of memory cards. The company’s initial product offering was a line of CROM 48-bit 2k memory cards for what then was advanced computing applications. As memory products transitioned from cards to chips the company refocused as a fabricator of printed circuit boards and in 1979 changed its name to IMI, Inc.

As a fabricator of printed circuit boards IMI successfully advanced in layer count and technology while also focusing on becoming an early “quick-turn” supplier. Company milestones include purchasing and moving into our current facility in Haverhill, MA in 1985; achieving MIL 55110 certification in 1992; beginning to process PTFE laminates in 1994; achieving ISO certification in 1995; achieving AS9100 certification in 2008; becoming ITAR registered in 2009; achieving MIL 31032 certification in 2017; and most recently achieving IPC-1791 “Trusted Supplier” certification in 2020.

Over the past 50 years IMI has fabricated circuit boards for storied programs such as the original Mars Rover project; participated in significant military weapons programs; supplied PTFE products to support 3G, 4G and now 5G communication; provided prototypes for next generation technologies as well as producing production volume product for the who’s-who in the RF/microwave and telecommunications industries.

Peter Bigelow, President & CEO commented, “IMI has been an industry pioneer since its inception and continues to be focused on providing excellence in product and service to its customers.” Continuing “we are grateful to the original founders, many great employees who have served with us over the last half century as well as the hundreds of wonderful customers, large and small, who have, and continue to rely on IMI to be the innovative, highly focused manufacturer we are and have always been.” Adding “because of our customers we have been able to continually make the investments in equipment and processes necessary to assure that long term IMI remains an industry leader.”

IMI has been and continues to be actively involved with industry associations, government task groups and other organizations that promote technological advancement and policy insight so the company continues to offer the technology needed with the certifications required by leading, world class companies. “Today IMI is proud to be actively supporting our industry and gratified that we are recognized as one of the industry’s leading companies” added Bigelow.