Technology

IDTechEx Summarizes TIM Fillers Trends, Benefits, and Drawbacks

Published

2 years ago

May 28, 2024

BOSTON, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are increasingly adopted, with the market size expected to exceed US$8 billion by 2034. Thermal fillers play a crucial role in TIMs as they directly affect properties such as thermal conductivity, viscosity, cost, abrasiveness, and several other factors. TIM fillers typically stand as the most expensive ingredient in TIM formulations; therefore, the selection of TIM fillers needs to find a balance between good thermal conductivity, decent mechanical properties, and an acceptable price.

There is a variety of TIM fillers, including alumina, aluminum hydroxide (ATH), aluminum nitride (AlN), zinc oxide (ZnO), magnesium oxide (MgO), and boron nitride (BN). Depending on the target applications and requirements, the filler materials, particle size, and filler mixing are proprietary to TIM formulators. Below are a few interesting findings based on the comparison of different fillers, with more in-depth analysis covered in IDTechEx’s new market research report, “Thermal Interface Materials 2024-2034: Technologies, Markets, and Forecasts“.

Alumina fillers are the most commonly used in the current market. They are effective for increasing thermal conductivity in epoxies at a low cost (USD 5.5-6.5/kg with the potential to go as low as USD 2-3/kg). It is worth noting that prices are largely dependent on filler size, grade, geometry, and order volume. In addition to thermal conductivity, alumina fillers also present low electrical conductivity, making them ideal for electronics applications. However, despite their benefits, alumina fillers come with several limitations, such as relatively low thermal conductivity compared with other high-performance fillers, abrasiveness, and low viscosity at high loading percentages. Alumina fillers can be broadly split into spherical alumina and ground alumina fillers, spherical alumina typically has higher costs than ground alumina. According to IDTechEx’s research, ground alumina can reduce costs by around 50% compared to spherical alumina. However, ground alumina, due to their edgy geometries, often have a much lower loading percentage.

An interesting trend in TIMs for electric vehicle (EV) batteries is the transition from using alumina fillers to ATH fillers. ATH fillers have significantly lower costs compared to alumina (20% to 40% lower, depending on volume, suppliers, and many other factors), but they also lead to lower thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, driven by the battery pack configuration transition from modular design to cell-to-pack design and even cell-to-pack 3.0 design by CATL, IDTechEx believes that the thermal conductivity required for TIMs in EV batteries is expected to decrease from around 3.5 W/mK previously to around 2.5 W/mK in the future. This lowering of thermal conductivity opens the possibility of using ATH fillers for EV manufacturers to further reduce costs. Additionally, ATH fillers also have flame retardancy as they can decompose endothermically, releasing approximately 35% of their weight as water vapor, thereby absorbing heat and reducing thermal runaway. More details on how EV battery pack configuration will affect thermal conductivity and TIMs employed in EV batteries are covered in the IDTechEx report, “Thermal Interface Materials 2024-2034: Technologies, Markets, and Forecasts”.

In addition to low-cost thermal fillers, some applications also need high-performance TIMs. Commonly used higher-performance TIMs include boron nitride fillers and AlN fillers. However, high performance comes with high costs. For instance, BN fillers can cost 10 times more than alumina fillers. Therefore, to balance thermal conductivity performance and cost, TIM formulators typically mix fillers where primary fillers are low-cost alumina, and secondary fillers are high-cost BN fillers or others. Additionally, TIM fillers with various particle sizes are also commonly used. Larger fillers can reduce specific surface area and interfacial thermal resistance, improving thermal conductivity. However, large fillers lead to high defect density, which can impede heat transfer. Hence, smaller fillers are employed as additives to reduce defect density.

Besides the fillers mentioned above, there are also opportunities for other fillers such as MgO, ZnO, and several others, although each presents its own challenges, such as toxicity and high costs. For more details on the benchmark comparison of TIM fillers, please refer to IDTechEx’s new report, “Thermal Interface Materials 2024-2034: Technologies, Markets, and Forecasts”.

To find out more about this report, including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/TIM.

For the full portfolio of thermal management market research from IDTechEx, please see www.IDTechEx.com/Research/Thermal.

Upcoming free-to-attend webinar
Comprehensive Overview of Thermal Interface Materials: Trends and Developments

Yulin Wang, Senior Technology Analyst at IDTechEx and author of this article, will be presenting a free-to-attend webinar on the topic on Thursday 27 June 2024 – Comprehensive Overview of Thermal Interface Materials: Trends and Developments.

The webinar encompasses the following insights:

An overview of thermal interface materials by TIM formTIMs in EV battery packs: Trends of TIM’s thermal conductivity and property trendTIMs in EV power electronics: TIM1 (die-attach technologies) and TIM2 overviewTIMs in data centers: TIM opportunities with the transition to liquid coolingTIMs in 5GTIMs in ADASTIMs in consumer electronics

Please click here to check timings and register for your specific time zone.

If you are unable to make the date, please register anyway to receive the links to the on-demand recording (available for a limited time) and webinar slides as soon as they are available.

About IDTechEx:

IDTechEx provides trusted independent research on emerging technologies and their markets. Since 1999, we have been helping our clients to understand new technologies, their supply chains, market requirements, opportunities and forecasts. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Media Contact:
Lucy Rogers
Sales and Marketing Administrator
press@IDTechEx.com
+44(0)1223 812300

Social Media Links:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/IDTechEx

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/idtechex-summarizes-tim-fillers-trends-benefits-and-drawbacks-302156693.html

Technology

FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION APPOINTS DAVID S. SCHULZ TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Published

38 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

LANCASTER, Pa., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT) (“Fulton”) today announced the appointment of David S. Schulz as a member of its board of directors (the “Board”) for a term commencing September 14, 2026 and expiring at Fulton’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders.

“We’re excited to welcome Dave to Fulton’s board of directors,” said Curt Myers, Fulton Chairman, CEO, and President. “Dave brings extensive financial leadership experience gained through more than a decade of service with publicly traded companies. His expertise in finance, strategic planning, risk, and mergers and acquisitions will provide valuable perspective as we continue to execute our growth strategy and create long-term value for our shareholders, customers and communities.”

With the addition of Schulz, Fulton’s Board will have 11 members, and he will serve on the Audit and Risk committees. Schulz has also been appointed to the board of directors of Fulton’s banking subsidiary, Fulton Bank, N.A.

Schulz served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wesco International, Inc. (“Wesco”) from 2016 to June 2020, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wesco from June 2020 to February 2026 and as Executive Vice President and Special Advisor to the CEO of Wesco from February 2026 until his retirement on May 31, 2026.

Prior to joining Wesco, Schulz served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Armstrong Flooring, Inc. and was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. and Vice President of Finance of the Armstrong Building Products division.

Before joining Armstrong World Industries in 2011, he held various financial leadership roles with Procter & Gamble and The J.M. Smucker Company. He was also an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

In 2025, Schulz joined the board of Sterling Infrastructure, Inc., and he was appointed as chair of the audit committee in 2026. He also serves on the company’s compensation and talent development committee.

ABOUT FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Fulton, a $34 billion Lancaster, Pa.-based financial holding company, has more than 3,400 employees and operates more than 215 financial centers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia through Fulton Bank, N.A. Additional information on Fulton can be found at https://investor.fultonbank.com.

Contact: Steve Trapnell
717-291-2739

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fulton-financial-corporation-appoints-david-s-schulz-to-board-of-directors-302831288.html

SOURCE Fulton Financial Corporation

Technology

Octavio Marquez Elected to MSA Safety Board of Directors

Published

38 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

PITTSBURGH, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA), a global leader in the development of advanced industrial safety technology products and solutions, today announced that Octavio Marquez, president and chief executive officer of Diebold Nixdorf, has been elected to the company’s Board of Directors. His election was part of the MSA Board’s regular succession plans.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to add Octavio to the MSA Board,” said Robert A. Bruggeworth, MSA chairman. “He brings a broad range of executive leadership experience, including strategy development, capital allocation, business transformation and serving international markets, which will serve MSA well.”

“Octavio’s perspectives will be an asset to me and our entire Executive Leadership Team,” said Steven C. Blanco, MSA president and CEO. “It is a pleasure to welcome Octavio to MSA, and I look forward to working with him.”

Mr. Marquez joined Diebold Nixdorf in 2014 and has held senior leadership roles across the company’s Global Banking organization and its Americas region, including as executive vice president of Global Banking and senior vice president of the Americas. Before joining Diebold Nixdorf, Mr. Marquez held leadership positions at Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM and NCR.

Diebold Nixdorf automates, digitizes and transforms the way people bank and shop. As a partner to the majority of the world’s top 100 financial institutions and top 25 global retailers, its integrated solutions connect digital and physical channels conveniently, securely and efficiently for millions of customers every day. Headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, Diebold Nixdorf employs approximately 20,000 employees globally, supporting more than 100 countries.

Mr. Marquez holds a degree in business and finance from Universidad Iberoamericana and has completed executive education programs at MIT Sloan, The Wharton School and The University of Texas at Austin.

About MSA Safety

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced industrial safety technology products and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2025 revenues of $1.9 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and employs a team of approximately 5,300 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/octavio-marquez-elected-to-msa-safety-board-of-directors-302831265.html

SOURCE MSA Safety

Technology

BlueFolder Field Service Software Launches New AI-Powered Features to Transform How Teams Work

Published

38 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

New AI capabilities instantly surface customer insights and transform technician notes into actionable summaries to help field service teams work faster, stay aligned, and deliver better service

AUBURN, Ala., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BlueFolder field service software recently announced the launch of two powerful new AI features: AI-Powered Customer Summaries and AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization. Together, these capabilities are designed to eliminate the time-consuming, manual work of reviewing fragmented customer records and lengthy technician notes—giving field service teams instant clarity to respond faster, make smarter decisions, and deliver exceptional service.

BlueFolder expands it’s field service and work order management suite with two exciting new AI field service features.

Built directly into the BlueFolder platform, both features leverage artificial intelligence to automatically compile and summarize complex, unstructured data into clear, easy-to-read overviews. The result: technicians, dispatchers, and managers always have the context they need, right when they need it.

AI-Powered Customer Summaries

As field service organizations grow, customer information becomes increasingly scattered across emails, service request logs, and communication histories. BlueFolder’s AI Customer Summary feature addresses this challenge head-on by consolidating those interactions into a single, actionable snapshot.

Instead of manually digging through multiple records before a service call or customer interaction, teams can now access a real-time summary highlighting key concerns, past service activity, and recent updates. The feature goes beyond basic summarization and surfaces critical business insights such as equipment past due for maintenance, approaching warranty expirations, and proactive revenue opportunities, empowering teams to recommend follow-ups or upgrades directly from the customer record.

Built-in traceability links each summary back to its original source communications, so users can validate insights with confidence, ensuring both speed and accuracy in every customer interaction.

AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization

In many service organizations, technicians log updates across multiple visits, often resulting in long, fragmented notes that are difficult to review at a glance. BlueFolder’s AI Field Notes Summarization feature solves this by automatically condensing multiple technician entries into a structured summary that highlights key milestones, actions taken, and next steps.

Rather than scrolling through pages of updates, managers and dispatchers can immediately understand job status and determine what needs to happen next, improving alignment between field and office teams, accelerating decision-making, and reducing miscommunication. The feature is especially valuable for complex or multi-day jobs, where clear continuity and smooth technician handoffs are critical to delivering consistent service. It’s another featuring making BlueFolder’s work order management software capabilities stronger every day.

“History is one of the most powerful tools a service team has — the problem is it’s usually buried. BlueFolder’s new AI features fix that. Your team walks into every interaction already knowing the customer, knowing the equipment, and exactly where things stand. That changes the entire experience,” says John Shaw, VP, Technology, Service Operations.

AI as a Core Part of the BlueFolder Platform

The launch of these two features reflects BlueFolder’s broader commitment to embedding AI throughout its field service management software as an integrated layer of intelligence that makes every workflow smarter. Rather than requiring teams to change how they work, BlueFolder’s AI capabilities are designed to surface the right information at the right moment automatically, within the tools that technicians, dispatchers, and managers already use every day.

“AI is transforming what’s possible in field service, and BlueFolder is answering that call. These features are the result of deep platform expertise and a clear vision for where the industry is headed. We’re embedding intelligence throughout the platform because we know it makes our customers more competitive, more efficient, and better positioned to grow,” says Stephen Myslicki, Group President of Field Services.

Availability

Both AI-Powered Customer Summaries and AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization are available now to BlueFolder customers as optional, easy-to-enable features within the platform. They are part of BlueFolder’s growing suite of AI-driven capabilities designed to help field service organizations operate more efficiently and scale with confidence.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluefolder-field-service-software-launches-new-ai-powered-features-to-transform-how-teams-work-302831320.html

SOURCE BlueFolder