iFixit, the company dedicated to teaching people how to repair their own products, has plenty of engineering expertise. What they don't have is industrial design chops. When they wanted to create their own soldering iron system, they turned to ID consultancy Spanner to create a powerful unit that would be consistent with their brand. The resultant product is called the FixHub.

iFixit FixHub

At Spanner, we're passionate about collaborating with innovative companies to bring amazing products to life. That's why we were thrilled to partner with iFixit on the FixHub, a soldering iron that's more than just a tool – it's a portable powerhouse designed for the modern fixer. It reflects a commitment to empowering people to take charge of their repairs.

The FixHub isn't your grandpa's soldering iron. It's a high-performance system that combines rapid heating, portability, and smart features to meet the exacting standards of today's repair warriors. This is the tool that makes soldering as mobile as your gadgets, letting you conquer fixes wherever you roam, from the field to your workbench.

Spanner played a pivotal role in bringing the iFixit FixHub to life

Our expert team was instrumental in devising, designing, and engineering this innovative, portable soldering iron. We worked closely with iFixit to ensure the FixHub aligned perfectly with their brand, delivering a product that was not only high-performing but also visually appealing and affordable. Our contributions to the FixHub included:

- Strategic Design Direction: We helped define the overall product vision, ensuring that FixHub was a perfect fit for the iFixit brand and the needs of iFixit's customers.

- Mechanical Engineering: Our engineers designed and refined the FixHub's mechanical layout and feature details, considering factors like manufacturability, assembly, cost, and, repairability (of course).

- Industrial Design: We established the general design aesthetic for the FixHub with considerations for a broader product line, ensuring a consistent and visually appealing look.

- UX Design: We played a key role in designing the seamless interaction between the soldering iron and the hub, including the innovative cap that doubles as a stand.

Together with iFixit, we created a portable soldering station that empowers people to repair their devices with ease and efficiency. The FixHub's success is a testament to our collaborative approach and our commitment to delivering exceptional products.

"Like the soldering iron they helped design, the Spanner team was fast, responsive, and highly skilled. They quickly grasped our users' needs and delivered an intuitive, user-friendly design with impressive efficiency."

— Brett Hartt, Chief Engineer, iFixit

"Working alongside the iFixit team to bring the FixHub to life was an incredibly rewarding experience. We were driven by the goal of creating a tool that would empower people to repair their devices with ease and efficiency. Spanner was proud to contribute our expertise in design, engineering, and manufacturing to ensure the FixHub met the highest standards of quality and performance. Enabling the positive impact that the FixHub will have on the repair community is truly inspiring."

— Spanner Senior Product Designer, Alyssa Kinoshita

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You can see more of Spanner's work here.