Eye on the Ion

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During the recent SMTA Houston Expo & Tech Forum, I had the good fortune to meet and interview Joey Sanchez, senior director of ecosystems at The Ion, a 300,000-square-foot space in the renovated historical Sears building in the city’s Midtown section. Opened in 2021, The Ion is part of the 16-acre (12 city blocks) Ion Innovation District, which is currently under development. The facility is owned and managed by Rice University.

The Ion serves as a gathering place for entrepreneurs, students, corporations, and academics to connect, share ideas, learn, and collaborate on innovation. There are many resources onsite for innovation, including prototyping labs with 3D printing, CNC mills, training courses, mentors, and meeting rooms that are open to the public. More than 250 companies occupy the floors above, including Microsoft on the top floor.

Hundreds of events are hosted each year at The Ion, including Cup of Joey, which was started by Joey Sanchez as a walk-in event every Friday morning. It’s where people can meet, enjoy a cup of coffee, and make a connection with a wide array of people. I went to my first Cup of Joey in March, where I connected with people from all parts of life and industry, including Alert Tech SMT, a Houston-based EMS provider.

To read this entire article, which appeared in the May 2023 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.

05/24/2023 | Shawn DuBravac, IPC

For some electronics manufacturing companies, lower freight costs are likely to be their most significant cost savings this year. Decreased demand and improving supply chain dynamics are pulling freight costs down, a trend that should continue throughout this year. Downward cyclical pressures will curtail volume, which should keep prices in check.

05/23/2023 | Barry Matties and Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007

Every industry has a beginning, and we are lucky to have Rex Rozario here to share the story of how the printed circuit board industry got its start. I-Connect007 chatted with Rex recently about how he became involved with circuit board inventor Dr. Paul Eisler.

04/27/2023 | Chris Wall, technical director, Electra Polymers

Ever since liquid photoimageable solder masks (LPISMs) were introduced, their UV exposure speed has been a key factor in their performance. The LPISM is coated onto the PCB, dried, and then selectively exposed with UV light via a phototool, or more recently, via direct imaging using LED or lasers. The exposed areas polymerise and become insoluble in the developing solution. The polymerisation is initiated by one or more chemicals called photoinitiators, which are components of the LPISM.