Defense Speak Interpreted: If CHIPS Cuts Back, What Happens to Electronics Packaging Funds?
American Made Advocacy: Where’s the Budget for a Modern Military Run on Microelectronics?
Beyond the Board: Orbital High Ground—Why Space Superiority Is Slipping Away
Winners of IPC Hand Soldering Competition at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2023 Announced
February 14, 2023 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
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 were:
First Place: Returning first prize winner, Justyna Mikolajzcyk, Zettlex, with 537 points from a possible 558, with a time of 55 minutes,10 seconds. She received a certificate, a cash prize of 300 EUR, and a gift from sponsor Almit. As the winner, Mikolajzcyk qualified for the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship at productronica in Munich, Germany in November 2023.
Second place: Przemyslaw Marszalek, TVC, with a total of 533 points completing his board in 51 minutes, 07 seconds. He received a certificate, a cash prize of 200 EUR, and a gift from sponsor Almit.
Third Place: Rich Barlow, GAITQ, Ltd., with a total score of 524 points, completing in a time of 56 minutes, 07 seconds. He received a certificate, a cash prize of 100 EUR, and a gift from sponsor Almit.
Best Company Team Award
The Best Company Award, determined by the best scores of the contestants from that company, was presented to Dyson Technology, Ltd, with three competitors achieving the best team performance in the competition.
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)
“IPC thanks and congratulates all the participants and their companies for their interest and for taking up the hand soldering challenge,” said Philippe Leonard, managing director, IPC Electronics Europe GmbH. “We look forward to a full year of exciting competitions, culminating in the World Championship in Munich later this year.”
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
New Podcast Episode Drop: MKS’ Atotech’s Role in Optimize the Interconnect
09/04/2025 | I-Connect007In this episode of On the Line With…, host Nolan Johnson sits down with Patrick Brooks, MKS' Atotech's Global Product Director, EL Systems, to discuss the critical role that wet processes play alongside laser systems in advancing the Optimize the InterconnectSM initiative. Brooks points to Bondfilm as a key example—a specialized coating that enables CO₂ lasers to ablate more effectively than ever before.
The Global Electronics Association Hosts Successful WorksAsia-AI and Factory of the Future Technical Seminar
09/03/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationOn August 22, 2025, the Global Electronics Association hosted the successful WorksAsia-AI and Factory of the Future Technical Seminar during the exhibition Automation Taipei 2025. The seminar brought together 81 representatives from 58 companies, focusing on the latest applications of AI in smart factories and unveiling four key directions that will drive the electronics industry’s transition toward intelligence and sustainability.
TRI's AI-Powered Inspection Solutions at SMTAI 2025
09/02/2025 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading provider of test and inspection systems, will be joining the SMTA International Exposition & Conference. The event will be held from October 21 – 23, 2025, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, USA.
More Than a Competition: Instilling a Champion's Skill in IPC Masters China 2025
09/01/2025 | Evelyn Cui, Global Electronics Association—East AsiaNearly 500 elite professionals from the electronics industry, representing 18 provinces and municipalities across China, competed in the 2025 IPC Masters Competition China, March 26–28, in Pudong, Shanghai. A total of 114 contestants advanced to the practical competition after passing the IPC Standards Knowledge Competition. Sixty people competed in the Hand Soldering and Rework Competition (HSRC), 30 in the Cable and Wire Harness Assembly Competition (CWAC), and 24 in the Ball Grid Array/Bottom Termination Components (BGA/BTC) Rework Competition.
Standard of Friendship: Debbie McDade and Symon Franklin Went From Classmates to Colleagues
08/27/2025 | Debbie McDade, Advanced Rework Technology Ltd.As a fairly new IPC Master Trainer, I nervously attended my first IPC committee meeting in 2002 in New Orleans—a 4,600-mile trip from my home in the UK—for the IPC-610 Task Group. With more than 250 members, it was the largest IPC committee at that time.