Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1539509
46 PCB007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2025 What is your background and how does it fit in with Jiva? I started in this industry in 1977. I spent 12 years working with a major PCB company, starting as an operator, and eventually fulfilling roles as production manager, technical manager, and general manager. In 1989, I started my own PCB factory in the base- ment of a shop. Over three decades, I rose and fell a few times, acquiring over 10 PCB companies along the way. I was a disruptor, enjoyed new technologies, chal- lenges, and exotic materials. I worked across all sectors, from commercial electronics to high- reliability medical and aerospace. I built great teams and factories, and enjoyed long-term loyal customers that helped our business grow to over $20 million in revenue with customers across the globe. I have bucket loads of passion. I love the industry and the people in it. I am also known as someone who gets stuff done. I love the "do- ing"—the speed, progress, growth, and product development. When I commit, I will go deep and give it my best shot. I started at Jiva as a consultant two days a week, but I could see more was needed. As Jack raised more money, I helped him grow the team and the infrastructure. I then took on the COO role, followed by the CEO role, which is what I'm doing now. Being the CEO of an investment-backed company is very different from being the CEO of an owner-managed business. There are different responsibilities and many stakeholders to worry about. What is your role as CEO? My role has been to transform Jack's original idea and proof of concept (POC) into a viable product, build a team, build a business, and develop pro- cesses and systems that make Jiva investable and an interesting proposition for the electronics industry. Today, Jiva is in a good place. Soluboard as a product is gaining global attention, and our mission is to make PCBs more environmentally friendly and cre- ate a more manageable and valuable waste stream. We live in a world that puts huge demands on technology, and PCBs are at the heart of all devices. Fashion, legislation, software, and component obsolescence all contribute to premature end-of- life issues with PCBs. Jiva will never stop or reduce the waste, but we can make the waste easier to handle. More importantly, a PCB manufactured using Soluboard is more environmentally friendly during manufacture, offering a 68% carbon reduc- tion over FR-4. Let's talk about Soluboard, this amazing product in material science. What is it, and what types of products can it be used in? Soluboard is the world's first fully biodegradable PCB substrate. It is manufactured using natural fibres and a blended water-soluble polymer. We have a worldwide patent on our recipes and methodologies. The material is a thermoplastic as opposed to thermoset, like most other PCB materi- als. Of course, this does present some concerns and challenges; however, it is this uniqueness that allows it to be recycled. Soluboard has been designed to be a near drop- in replacement for FR-4, CEM3, CEM1, and FR-2 materials. PCB fabrication is essentially the same; there are minor tweaks to the processes in much the same way you would tweak a process to make a PTFE or aluminum PCB. No additional equipment, special chemistries, or inks are needed. There are, of course, some downsides. Our resin system has a melting point of 220°C (428°F), mean- ing HASL is not permitted. Also, the polymer starts to dissolve in hot water at 90°C (194°F), which means the standard ENIG finish is not possible. Soluboard is, however, compatible with Lilotree, and we already have customers converting to this amazing new nickel-free, cyanide-free finish. The mission and environmental credentials of this are very aligned with Jiva. Our default finishes are OSP and immersion silver. This material is tested to IPC standards for the development of new materials. What does it mean that Soluboard is tested to IPC standards? Steve D river