Save the date for the Italian Regional Qualification for the IPC Hand Soldering Competition (HSC) to take place at the FocusOnPCB 2024 exhibition in Vicenza on 14-16 May 2024.

Skilled soldering experts (F/M) will be competing for 60 minutes on a complex circuit board assembly to win the 2024 National title, earn a cash prize , and compete for a coveted spot at the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship later this year.

Competition for Professionals

The professional competitors will be judged by IPC Master Instructors (MIT) on soldering a complex printed circuit board with a maximum time of 60 minutes under IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria. Additional criteria will include the quality of the results achieved and of the assembly process, the overall electrical functionality of the assembly, and the speed at which the assembly was produced.

Prizes for Professionals

Cash prizes will be awarded to the professionals: the winner and two runners-up.

• 1st place – 300€
• 2nd place – 200€
• 3rd place – 100€

IPC Hand Soldering World Championship: The winner will be invited by IPC (all expenses covered by IPC) to compete in the HSC World Final in November at Electronica tradeshow in Munich, Germany.

Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award: This year again, nominate a team to win the Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award. For any company enlisting 2 or 3 competitors, the highest combined scores of competitors from the same company will determine which company will receive the HSC Best Company Team Award.

Registration is free of charge.

You do not need to be an IPC member to take part.

You do not need to be IPC-certified to take part.

The competition setup is supplied by organizers, no need to bring any equipment except your ESD cloths (with or without corporate branding).

Register Now

For more information, please contact Philippe Léonard, IPC Europe director (PhilippeLeonard@ipc.org).

USPAE and IPC would like to invite you to participate in an IC substrate workshop planned for May 16, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The workshop will further IPC’s work on a U.S. Department of Defense-funded project to study and recommend approaches to addressing the country’s lack of IC substrate manufacturing capabilities.

In addition to morning and luncheon keynotes featuring government leaders, the workshop will divide participants into breakout groups exploring four key areas:

• Technology Requirements
• Workforce Needs
• Standards Solutions
• Financial Competitiveness

Efforts will be made in advance of the workshop to ensure equitable distribution of participants across breakout groups and to ensure that key segments are represented. If there are others in your company or in the industry who you believe should be invited to this workshop, please reach out to JoeO'Neil@ipc.org.

View agenda. 

Registration closes May 10.

This webinar will focus on circularity in electronics manufacturing, particularly on the recovery and reuse of integrated circuits (ICs).

The session will include an introduction by EarthShift Global (ESG) CEO Lise Laurin on the collaborative work ESG is conducting with the National Institute of Standards and Technolgy (NIST) to explore the potential for broader IC reuse.

This introduction will be followed by a discussion on the role of electronic component reuse within the industry, and what challenges and opportunities exist for companies engaged in this practice.

Attendees should come prepared to discuss challenges and opportunities on:

• types of resources or knowledge that would help your organization increase circularity, especially in regard to IC harvesting, testing and reuse; and
• areas where you feel the industry needs more research or dialogue on IC reuse.

IPC’s hand soldering competitions around the world are highly popular events generating a lot of attention, participation and publicity. The competition attracts the enthusiastic participation of thousands of professionals specializing in high-reliability products within the electronics industry such as defense, aerospace/aviation, rail transportation, automotive electronics, consumer electronics, etc. Operators continuously refine and enhance their skills through participation in IPC Skills Competitions, while participating companies elevate their process standards, reduce product costs, and significantly improve their competitive advantages.

Registration is free of charge. The number of participants is limited!

For more information or event sponsorship, please contact Ms. Tharinee Butmuang Jib, JibButmuang@ipc.org

IPC is shining a spotlight on the incredible women in the electronics industry who are breaking barriers, making bold breakthroughs, and paving the way for future generations. They're not just engineers – they're innovators, problem-solvers, and trailblazers who are transforming the field in ways never seen before.

Join IPC on June 24 at 10:00 am EDT for a special virtual event, "Bold Breakthroughs: Women Reshaping the Engineering Landscape," as we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day (INWED). Our lineup of panelists features nine extraordinary women from nine different countries, each a leader in her own right within the electronics industry:

🔸Sylvie Bugnand, Founder and Director, Polygone CAO (France)
🔸Susann Chen, Senior Engineer, Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co. (China)
🔸Savita Ganjigatti, Vice President, Engineering, Sienna ECAD Technologies (India)
🔸Milea Kammer, Senior Engineering Manager – Materials Engineering, Honeywell Aerospace (United States)
🔸Susan Kayesar, PCBflow Product Manager, Siemens Digital Industries Software (Israel)
🔸Carol Marsh, Head of Digital Systems, Celestia Technologies (United Kingdom)
🔸Raquel Rodriguez, CEO, INSYTE SA (Spain)
🔸Outi Rusanen, Principal Interconnection Specialist, TactoTek (Finland)
🔸Corina Stocker, Senior Expert Press-fit Technology, Continental Automotive Technologies (Germany)

Emcee: IPC’s Teresa Rowe, Senior Director, Assembly & Standards Technology

Get ready to hear firsthand about:

🚀 Their inspiring engineering journey

🏆 Their proudest accomplishment

💡 One invaluable piece of advice (or a lesson learned)

Meet the faces behind the feats -- this is your chance to connect with these trailblazing women, learn from their experiences, and chart your own path to success.

Don't miss out on this empowering event and get ready to be inspired like never before! Together, let's celebrate the unstoppable force of female engineers and ignite a new era of innovation.

REGISTER FOR FREE VIRTUAL PANEL

To meet the needs of China's electronics industry, IPC Asia and Pudong New Area Association For Quality And Technology Shanghai, will jointly organize a comprehensive skill competition event – IPC Masters 2024 in Shanghai, China. IPC Masters will include Hand Soldering Competition (HSC), Cable and Wire Harness Assembly Competition (CWAC), BGA/BTC (Ball Grid Array/Bottom Termination Components) Rework Competition and IPC Standard Knowledge Competition.

IPC Masters aims to provide a valuable platform for operators in the electronic industry across China to enhance their skills and showcase their talents. Through this competition, contestants will have the opportunity to learn and apply their skills, contributing to the promotion of quality and technical standards in China's electronics manufacturing industry. The event also plays a pivotal role in talent development, enabling participants to step onto the international stage and demonstrate the strength and charm of China's skilled craftsmen.

For more information or event sponsorship, please contact marketingchina@ipc.org

This event will be organized during 2024 Taiwan Robot and Intelligent Automation Exhibition \ 2024 Taipei International Industrial Automation Exhibition from August 21-24, showcasing the research and experience on industry pain points:

-Introduction of IPC-HERMES-9852 & Basic Architecture & Transmission Mechanism & Interchangeable Messages

-Introduction of IPC-2951-CFX & Basic Architecture & Transmission Mechanism & Basic Specifications (Table 6-1, 6-2) & Interchangeable Messages & Application Scene Introduction & Factory of the Future Applications & Real Scene Demonstrations

- AMR Automated Loading and Unloading (CFX)

- First Station Data & Batch Completion Data & Rework Station PCB Placement & Command Stop Board

- Integration System Manufacturer – Enlight Technology for CFX Equipment Integration

For more information or event sponsorship, please contact Ms. Winny Lin at WinnyLin@ipc.org

IPC’s hand soldering competitions around the world are highly popular events generating a lot of attention, participation and publicity. The competition attracts the enthusiastic participation of thousands of professionals specializing in high-reliability products within the electronics industry such as defense, aerospace/aviation, rail transportation, automotive electronics, consumer electronics, etc. Operators continuously refine and enhance their skills through participation in IPC Skills Competitions, while participating companies elevate their process standards, reduce product costs, and significantly improve their competitive advantages.

Registration is free of charge. The number of participants is limited!

For more information or event sponsorship, please contact Mr. Henry Ton, HenryTon@ipc.org

Join us for the IPC High Reliability Forum October 9-10, 2024, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. If you manufacture, design or test Class 3 electronics for applications with unique safety, reliability, and lifetime requirements, you don’t want to miss this event! 

This event provides a unique opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in electronics, participate in industry discussions, and network with this respected community of professionals focused on electronics with high reliability requirements. 

Presentation topics will include:

• Class 3 and safety critical electronics considerations
• Military, aerospace, medical, automotive, e-Mobility and other applications with specialized reliability requirements
• Well-rounded, industry-curated content covering many different topics related to high reliability issues in PCB design, PCB fabrication materials, PCB assembly, PCBA surface reliability, emerging electronic technologies, mitigation strategies and test methods

Save the date for the Estonian Regional Qualification for the IPC Hand Soldering Competition (HSC) to be held at Instrutec – Estonian Fairs Centre in Tallinn on 12-14 October 2024.

Skilled soldering experts (F/M) will be competing for 60 minutes on a complex circuit board assembly to win the 2024 National title, earn a cash prize and a coveted spot at the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship (HSC World Final to take place on 14-15 November 2024 at electronica in Munich, Germany).

Competition for Professionals

The professional competitors will be judged by IPC Master Instructors (MIT) on soldering a complex printed circuit board with a maximum time of 60 minutes in accordance with IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria. Additional criteria will include the quality of the results achieved and of the assembly process, the overall electrical functionality of the assembly as well as the speed at which the assembly was produced.

Prizes for Professionals

Cash prizes will be awarded to the professionals: the winner and two runners-up.

• 1st place – 300€

• 2nd place – 200€

• 3rd place – 100€

IPC Hand Soldering World Championship: The winner at Instrutec will be invited by IPC (all expenses covered by IPC) to take part in the HSC World Final in November at electronica in Munich, Germany.

Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award: This year again, nominate a team to win the Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award. For any company enlisting 2 or 3 competitors, the highest combined scores of competitors from the same company will determine which company will receive the HSC Best Company Team Award.

Registration is free of charge.

You do not need to be an IPC member to take part.

You do not need to be IPC-certified to take part.

The competition setup is supplied by organizers, no need to bring any equipment except your ESD cloths (with or without corporate branding).

How to register?

Registration form will be available shortly.

For more information, please contact Philippe Léonard, IPC Europe director (PhilippeLeonard@ipc.org), or Arno Kolk, Estonian Electronics Industries Association (arno.kolk@estonianelectronics.eu).

This competition is for choosing the Japanese champion to dispatch the world final 2024 with the cooperation of Japan Unix Co., Ltd. Preliminary details (mid-July & August) will be announced around June in their website. And then, only who pass the preliminary is invited to the final at NEPCON NAGOYA (Oct. 23 - 25).

For more information or event sponsorship, please contact Mr. Yusaku Kono at YusakuKono@ipc.org

NEPCON NAGOYA is the exhibition held in the center of the manufacturing industry of Japan. Nagoya is a capital city of Aichi prefecture which has Japan's largest automotive-related manufacturing industry cluster. IPC Japan will have its booth and have Japan regional final of IPC hand soldering competition 2024.

For more information or event sponsorship, please contact Mr. Yusaku Kono at YusakuKono@ipc.org

Electric vehicles and smart cars have become one of the fastest-growing markets in the electronics industry. With demands for automation, electrification, connectivity, and safety, vehicles are not only integrating more electronic products from various industries, but their quality and reliability must also be enhanced.

This workshop encourages attendees to interact, discuss, and share research and experiences related to the following topics:

• Material and technology trends in electric vehicles

• Reliability issues of electronic equipment in electric vehicles, including PCBs, solder joints, components, and assemblies

• Electronic component characteristics, failure analysis, reliability modeling, standards, and specifications

• Knowledge gaps and collaborative opportunities to address common issues faced by the supply chain of materials and parts for electric vehicles

This workshop will be organized during TPCA SHOW from October 23-25, 2024.

For more information or event sponsorship, please contact Ms. Winny Lin at WinnyLin@ipc.org

Save the date for the Regional Qualification for the IPC Hand Soldering Competition (HSC) being held at electronica – Munich, Germany - Hall #A4, IPC Booth #A4-502 - on 12-13 November 2024.

Skilled soldering experts (F/M) will be competing for 60 minutes on a complex circuit board assembly in the regional competition (12-13 November 2024) to win the 2024 Regional title, earn a cash prize , and a coveted spot at the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship.  (HSC World Final to take place on 14-15 November 2024 at electronica in Munich, Germany).

Competition for Professionals

The professional competitors will be judged by IPC Master Instructors (MIT) on soldering a complex printed circuit board with a maximum time of 60 minutes in accordance with IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria. Additional criteria will include the quality of the results achieved and of the assembly process, the overall electrical functionality of the assembly as well as the speed at which the assembly was produced.

Prizes for Professionals

Cash prizes will be awarded to the professionals: the winner and two runners-up.

• 1st place – 300€
• 2nd place – 200€
• 3rd place – 100€

IPC Hand Soldering World Championship: The winner of the regional competition at electronica will be invited to take part in the HSC World Finals, 14-15 November 2024, IPC booth #A4-502.

Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award: This year again, nominate a team to win the Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award. For any company enlisting 2 or 3 competitors, the highest combined scores of competitors from the same company will determine which company will receive the HSC Best Company Team Award.

Registration is free of charge.

You do not need to be an IPC member to take part.

You do not need to be IPC-certified to take part.

The competition setup is supplied by organizers, no need to bring any equipment except your ESD cloths (with or without corporate branding).

How to register?

Registration form will be available shortly.

For more information, please contact Philippe Léonard, IPC Europe director (PhilippeLeonard@ipc.org)