IPC Hand Soldering Competition Winner Crowned at What's New in Electronics Live 2019

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IPC, in conjunction with What’s New in Electronics Live and ART-- Advanced Rework Technology Ltd., conducted the IPC Hand Soldering Competition in Warwickshire, United Kingdom, on September 18-19, 2019. Twenty competitors demonstrated their soldering skills with the hope of winning the coveted hand soldering competition crown.

Participants were tasked with building a functional electronics assembly with more than 400 components, within a 60-minute time limit. The completed assembly was judged not only on speed of completion, but on workmanship, overall functionality and compliance with IPC-A-610G Class 3 criteria. Taking first place with a cash prize of £300 and new soldering stations from JBC and Hakko was Justyna Mikolajczyk, Zettlex. Mikolajczyk, who completed a functional board in 52 minutes and 42 seconds, and earned 440 points out of a possible 445, is eligible to compete at the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship at productronica in Munich this November.

Second place went to Phillip Smith, CIL, who completed his board in 60 minutes, earning 421 points. Smith, a former UK champion in hand soldering, received a cash prize of £200.

Third place went to Przemyslaw Marzalek, MSF Technologies, who completed his board in 56 minutes, 30 seconds, earning him 405 points and a cash prize of £100. Przemyslaw was the UK Champion last year and competed for the world championship title at the World Championship held at IPC APEX EXPO in San Diego, Calif earlier this year.

“It was evident that the best hand soldering talent in the United Kingdom came to compete at What’s New in Electronics Live,” said David Bergman, IPC vice president of standards and training. “The competition was tough, but each competitor rose to the challenge. We look forward to hosting more hand soldering competitions across the globe.”

Bergman added, “IPC would like to thank hand soldering competition sponsors: JBC, Hakko, Thalès, Optilia, The Daylight Company, NCAB, Almit, Electrolube, Zestron, and ART-Advance Rework Technology Ltd. for their support.”

All 2019 regional winners will take their hand soldering skills to the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship which will be held at productronica in Munich on November 14-15. For more information on upcoming IPC hand soldering competitions, visit www.ipc.org/events.

About IPC

IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 5,600 member-company sites which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Brussels, Belgium; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.