Winners of IPC Hand Soldering Competition at Global Industrie in Lyon, France Announced

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In cooperation with 2021 Global Industrie, IPC re-launched its popular Hand Soldering Competition, hosting skilled competitors on September 6-9, who demonstrated their expertise in hand soldering while competing for cash prizes. The first in-person trade show held in France since the onset of the COVID pandemic, Global Industrie welcomed 36 hand soldering experts representing 18 electronics companies.

This year’s competition board was designed by French supplier Polygone CAO in accordance with IPC-A-610H criteria. Featuring 116 components as small as 0402 and 0603, the board provided a significant challenge to contestants, resulting in only ten of 36 competitors completing the assembly within the time allotted, and only five of those boards functioning to specifications. IPC-A-610 Master Instructors from IFTEC, an IPC licensed master training center in France, served as competition judges.

On the winner’s podium for France this year:

First place: Pauline Duval, Thalès Etrelles (former World Vice-Champion at the 2019 IPC World Championship), with a board at 552 points out of 558 possible points, produced in 60 minutes. She received a certificate from IPC, a cash prize of €300, a soldering station from sponsor Hakko, and a gift from sponsor Almit.

Second place: Marina Bouvet, Thalès Etrelles, with a board at 550 points out of 558 possible points, produced in 56 minutes. She received a certificate from IPC, a cash prize of €200, and a gift from sponsor Almit.

Third place: Manuela Anani, Dassault Aviation,  with a board at 544 points out of 558 possible points, produced in 57 minutes. She received a certificate from IPC,  a cash prize of €100, and a gift from sponsor Almit.

New this year – The IPC award to the best company team

IPC and its partner Les Cahiers de l’Industrie Electronique presented a new award, recognizing the best company team in hand soldering. Companies with two or three competitors were automatically entered in the best company competition. The best company award was determined by the best scores of the contestants from that company. This year, 11 companies competed, with the top prize going to: Thalès Etrelles, with the combined score of 1,102 against a maximum possible score of 1116, completed within the total combined time of 116 minutes (maximum time allowed 120 minutes).

Next competitions in Europe

• Next Regional Competition in Europe will take place at productronica in Munich, Germany from November 16-19,2021.
• Next competition in France will take place next year at Global Industrie scheduled for spring 2022 (dates to be confirmed) in Paris-Villepinte, France.

For more information on European hand soldering competitions, contact Philippe Leonard, IPC Europe director.

IPC thanks IPC Hand Soldering Competition sponsors for their generous support:

• Gold Sponsors: Hakko and Thalès.
• Silver Sponsors: Almit GmbH, Optilia, TheDaylightCompany, SFM-Société Française de Microscopie, and Polygone CAO
• Local Sponsors: IFTEC, SNESE and Global Industrie and Les Cahiers de l’Industrie Electronique.