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.”
Suggested Items
IPC Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Denny Fritz
03/13/2025 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007This month, the Hall of Fame spotlight features Denny Fritz, a long-time friend and associate of mine. Denny first got involved with IPC in 1978 while working with MacDermid. His first efforts were with the various board fabrication committees, something he believes helped lead to his eventual Hall of Fame award.
IPC Asia’s Talent Development Program Opens Pathways to a More Qualified Workforce
03/14/2025 | Evelyn Cui, IPC AsiaIn Asia, the contradiction between the rapid development of the electronics manufacturing industry and the shortage of talent is particularly evident. The existing talent pool cannot fully meet the market's demand for highly skilled professionals. According to feedback from industry companies, there is an urgent need for professionals with knowledge of IPC standards and practical skills in electronics. However, the reality is that most academic courses are disconnected from the actual needs of the industry, leading to disappointing results when companies recruit from universities and schools.
Ventec International Group Announce Launch of VT-47LT IPC4101 /126 Prepreg for HDI
03/12/2025 | Ventec International GroupVentec International Group announce launch of VT-47LT IPC4101 / 126 Prepreg. Are Microvia Failures Plaguing Your HDI Any Layer Designs? High-density interconnect (HDI) designs are pushing the envelope - higher layer count HDI relies on complex microvia designs: skip vias, staggered microvias, and stacked microvias in sequential laminations.
IPC Releases Latest List of Standards and Revisions
03/12/2025 | IPCEach quarter, IPC releases a list of standards that are new or have been updated. To view a complete list of newly published standards and standards revisions, translations, proposed standards for ballot, final drafts for industry review, working drafts, and project approvals, visit ipc.org/status. These are the latest releases for Q1 2025.
The Test Connection Inc. Promotes Melanie Rutkauskas to Director of Operations for The Training Connection, LLC
03/11/2025 | The Test Connection Inc.The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI), a leading provider of electronic test and manufacturing solutions, is pleased to announce the promotion of Melanie Rutkauskas to Director of Operations for The Training Connection, LLC (TTC-LLC). With her extensive background in operations management, accounting, and customer relations, Melanie brings a wealth of experience and leadership to her new role.