IEC was founded in 1966 by Jim Stone to meet the needs of the emerging Printed Circuit Board Industry in Canada. Jim had been working in purchasing with a large military end user and became increasingly frustrated with the lack of a local source for circuit board supplies and equipment. Determined to change that, Jim filled the need for a company offering locally sourced materials, chemistry and equipment. IEC quickly established itself as a leader in the PCB industry through the strong partnerships forged with customers and suppliers, its dedication to service, the superior skills of the sales and service team and their manufacturing experience and expertise. The original office and warehouse were located at 2055 Rue de la Montagne Rue in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and expanded to Toronto in 1975.

In 1998, Shawn Stone and Chuck Williams founded IEC USA to continue the growth of IEC into the United States. Its reputation for excellence, built over 50 years, has made IEC a leading supplier of printed circuit board chemicals, copper clad laminates, and equipment to the North American market.