Buongiorno from Vicenza, Italy, where the first IPC hand soldering competition was held at Focus on PCB. Congratulations to the top three winners: Alessandro Manicone, Elettronica GF, Enrico Zanchetta, Ermes Elettronica, and Giorgio Agnielli, DynamiΣ PRC!  Grazie mille to MIT judges from GestLabs IPC training Center, and our spectacular sponsors Weller Tools, JBC Soldering Tools, Thales, Société Française de Microscopie, OPTILIA, Almit GmbH, Ateliers System Mobilier Industriel, Polygone CAO, and NCAB Group. 

In Nuremberg, Germany, SMT Connect held an intense hand soldering competition. Twenty-eight participants were tasked with assembling complex PCB under the scrutiny of IPC judges. Top prize went to Janett Winckler, from Prettl Electronics. She was closely followed by Pauline Duval and David Gasniea, both of Thales, who placed second and third respectively. Thanks to competition sponsors Weller Tools, JBC Soldering Thales, Societe Française de Microscopie, Optilia, Almit, AteliersSystem, PolygoneCAO, NCAB and our MIT judges from IPC training centers ETECH Trainingen and Trainalytics.

IPC hosted a Hand Soldering Competition in Budapest, Hungary, at InnoElectro March 28-30, welcoming 42 competitors from 29 European electronics companies. In first place for the second consecutive year, Peter Zsombok, BHE Bonn Hungary KFT. Second place was awarded to Viktor Czonka, from Alpine Hungary. Third place went to Janos Szebelledi, of BHE Bonn Hungary KFT. 

IPC is grateful to the HSC sponsors for their generous support:

• Gold sponsors: Weller Tools, Thales
• Silver Sponsors: Almit, Ateliers Systems, NCAB Group, Optilia, Polygone CAO, SFM-Societe Française de Microscopie

In conjunction with Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2023, IPC hosted the UK regional Hand Soldering Competition in Farnborough, UK, February 7-9, welcoming 27 competitors from 20 European electronics companies.

In conjunction with Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2023, IPC hosted the UK regional Hand Soldering Competition in Farnborough, UK, February 7-9, welcoming 27 competitors from 20 European electronics companies. Skilled contestants competed to build an assembly in accordance with IPC-A-610 – Class 3 criteria, and were judged on the functionality of the assembly, compliance with the assembly process, and overall product quality. Contestants were allowed a maximum of one hour to complete the process. On the winner’s podium was returning first prize winner, Justyna Mikolajzcyk, from Zettlex. She received a certificate, a cash prize of 300 EUR, and a gift from sponsor Almit. In second place was Przemyslaw Marszalek, of TVC. He received a certificate, a cash prize of 200 EUR, and a gift from sponsor Almit. Coming third, Rich Barlow, from GAITQ, Ltd, also received a certificate, a cash prize of 100 EUR, and a gift from sponsor Almit.

IPC is grateful to the HSC sponsors for their generous support:

• Gold sponsors: Weller Tools, Thales
• Silver Sponsors: Almit, Ateliers Systems, NCAB Group, Optilia, Polygone CAO, Societe Francaise de Microscopie (SFM)

In conjunction with electronica 2022, IPC hosted its popular IPC Hand Soldering Competition World Championship in Munich, Germany November 15, 2022, welcoming 10 competitors from across the globe.                                          

• First Place: Eliane Chesnais, Thales, who received a score of 556 out of a possible 558 for her finished working board
• Second place: Pauline Duval, Thales, who scored 551 points out of a possible 558 on her working board.
• Third Place: Xiangchao Wang, Shenyang Railway Signal Co., Ltd. who received 550 points out of a possible 558 for his board.

For the first time in the Hand Soldering World Championship history, the top two winners came from the same company, Thales.

IPC thanks electronica 2022 for hosting the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship and is grateful to the sponsors for their generous support:

• Gold sponsors: Hakko, Thales, and Ateliers System
• Silver Sponsors: Optilia, Almit, Polygone CAO, SFM-Societe Francaise de Microscopie, Gest Labs, ETECH Training and Trainalytics