Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1519075
18 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2024 Feature Interview by Barry Matties I-CONNECT007 Alex Stepinski talks about his business prior- ities for this year and what the market, partic- ularly aerospace and defense, needs for orders to be filled. Barry Matties: What is your priority for 2024? What do you hope to accomplish this year? Alex Stepinski: ZLD (zero liquid discharge) systems have become a good ROI investment on a larger scale, but I have more work to do on a smaller scale. In 2024, I believe we will get all sizes of this system down to an ROI of one year or less. is year, my key objective is to develop a central recycling system with a good ROI so that every shop has a high desire to buy. Scalable ZLD and a Solution for PCB Start-ups en I need to be able to deliver the system in an efficient and cost-effective way for every- one. I want to get that product going. I have other interests beyond wastewater. While doing the due diligence for new facto- ries in the U.S., I have found that many want to build circuit board shops but at a startup scale, and many want to build for aerospace and defense. Right now, the minimum viable bill of materials (BOM) to build a PCB shop is too high. If we make it all about defense-related products, the minimum viable BOM is tradi- tionally tens of millions of dollars. I have a part- ner and we're bringing a solution to market this year that has a new bill of material for startups.