Hardware Podcasts

Electronica 24: Jack Herring, Jiva Materials Founder on Pioneering Biodegradable Solutions in PCB Manufacturing

EMS@C-LEVEL · 18 Dec 2024 · 8m

What this episode covers

Jack Herring, Founder and Chief Product Officer of Jiva Materials, explains how his university project evolved into Soliboard, a biodegradable PCB substrate that replaces glass fiber and epoxy with natural fibers and a water-soluble polymer. He details the recycling process where hot water delaminates the board, allowing component recovery, and notes current production of single and double-layer boards with a roadmap to four-layer prototypes by mid-next year. Herring discusses the commercial strategy involving direct OEM partnerships, such as Bosch, and the 10-15% material premium over FR4, which is offset by energy savings during assembly. The company maintains supply chain control through partners in Hungary and Slovakia for pre-preg production and UK-based PCB fabrication.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Jiva Materials, Bosch
Products
Soliboard
Materials
FR4

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