-
-
News
News Highlights
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current Issue
Spotlight on Mexico
Mexico isn’t just part of the electronics manufacturing conversation—it’s leading it. From growing investments to cross-border collaborations, Mexico is fast becoming the center of electronics in North America. This issue includes bilingual content, with all feature articles available in both English and Spanish.
Production Software Integration
EMS companies need advanced software systems to thrive and compete. But these systems require significant effort to integrate and deploy. What is the reality, and how can we make it easier for everyone?
Spotlight on India
We invite you on a virtual tour of India’s thriving ecosystem, guided by the Global Electronics Association’s India office staff, who share their insights into the region’s growth and opportunities.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Jochen Lipp is New COO of Firstronic
December 26, 2017 | FirstronicEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Jochen Lipp has been named chief operating officer of Firstronic. He joined Firstronic’s board of directors in 2013 as vice chairman.
“Jochen’s operations expertise is unmatched in our segment the EMS industry, particularly in terms of understanding the best ways to implement Lean manufacturing holistically. He and I have already successfully worked as a team guiding one EMS company up a steep growth curve, and we are at the point in FIrstronic’s growth curve where this leadership combination makes sense once again,” said John Sammut, president and CEO.
Jochen has both electronic and business degrees. He spent over 20 years in the EMS industry, serving as COO of EPIC Technologies for half that time. While at EPIC, he was part of a team that grew the company from 250 employees in one factory to over 2,700 employees in six factories with sales of nearly $300 million. In recognition of that effort, he and John Sammut were jointly awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2006 Award in the Technology category.
Prior to joining EPIC, he was associated with Alcoa Fujikura, Ltd (AFL) as Operations Manager, where he was responsible for launching their electronics manufacturing operations in Juarez, Mexico in support of automotive industry customers. He was earlier responsible AFL’s electronics manufacturing operations in Germany and also launched two manufacturing facilities in Hungary. Most recently, Jochen served as CEO of IBL Technologies, the US subsidiary of vapor phase equipment manufacturer IBL-Löttechnik GmbH.
About Firstronic
Firstronic is a premier specialty provider of electronics manufacturing services (EMS), including turnkey electronic assembly and materials management services, to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the electronics industry. Firstronic’s electronic manufacturing services consist primarily of the manufacture of complex printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) using through-hole and surface mount technology (SMT), interconnection technologies including fine-pitch and mixed technology products.
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Tablet Market Levels Off in 3Q 2025 Following Six Quarters of Growth Driven by Replacement Demand
11/13/2025 | IDCWorldwide tablet shipments declined 4.4% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025 (3Q25), totaling 38 million units, according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker.
Innatera Signs Joya as ODM Customer, Bringing Neuromorphic Edge AI into Everyday Connected Products
11/13/2025 | PRNewswireInnatera, the leader in brain-like neuromorphic computing for ultra-low-power intelligence at the sensor edge, today announced that Xiamen Joyatech Co., Ltd. has become its first Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) customer.
Real Time with... productronica 2025: Looking Ahead to productronica, and a Stronger European Electronics Ecosystem
11/13/2025 | Real Time with...productronicaNext week at productronica, the Global Electronics Association Europe will be hosting a full program each day of the show at their booth in Hall A1. Philippe Leonard, head of the Association’s European office, recently shared what’s happening for our industry in Europe, details of the Hand Soldering World Championship at the show, a preview of a new Cable & Wire Harness competition kicking off in 2026, and information about the impressive lineup of speakers at the Electronics Industry Forum at the Association’s booth.
Mexico's Moment in Electronics Manufacturing
11/12/2025 | Lorena Villanueva, Global Electronics Association MexicoOn a weekday morning in the Bajío, Mexico, a training lab reviews accept/reject criteria before a line changeover. By mid-afternoon, a cross-border shipment clears in El Paso that left Ciudad Juárez at dawn. Farther south, a university team finalizes intake for a new electronics pathway blending online modules with factory practicums. These scenes—routine yet transformative—explain whyMexico is becoming the most strategic partner for the United States to ensure a resilient, innovative, and sovereign electronics supply chain in North America.
MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions to Feature an Integrated Materials Platform Engineered for Long-Term Reliability at Productronica
11/12/2025 | MacDermid Alpha Electronics SolutionsEvery advancement in electronics raises expectations for enhanced performance and environmental stewardship. Meeting these challenges demands materials engineered for reliability and developed to support sustainable manufacturing. Industry momentum across connected devices, high-reliability automotive electronics, and rapidly increasing compute density is elevating the role of materials selection as a core driver of long-term system performance.