IPC European Hand Soldering Competition Results
The Regional Winners of the IPC European Hand Soldering Competitions in 2024
IPC Hand Soldering World Champions 2024
IPC hosted its Hand Soldering World Championship in Munich, Germany, during electronica on 14–15 November 2024, welcoming 14 competitors from 13 companies across 12 countries. Skilled contestants competed to build an electronics assembly in accordance with IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria. Judging was based on the functionality of the assembly, compliance with the assembly process, and overall product quality. Each contestant was allowed a maximum of 60 minutes to complete their assembly.
Congratulations to the 2024 World Hand Soldering Champion, Zhiheng Zhou, Jiangsu Jinling Mechanism Manufacture Company, China, who achieved an impressive score of 801 out of a possible 816 points. He was awarded a cash prize of €1,000, a certificate from IPC, the 2024 World Title trophy, a new soldering station from JBC Soldering Tools, a WXSmart multi-awarded soldering station from Weller Tools, and a complimentary gift from Almit. Second place was secured by Roshan Dhyani, Barco Electronics Systems (P) Ltd, India. At the same time, the third-place trophy went to Stéphanie Devy, Thales, France, the 2024 winner of the Regional Qualification Germany the day before. For the first time ever, the podium included champions from China, India, and Europe.
IPC German Hand Soldering Regional Winners
The 2024 IPC Hand Soldering Competition – Regional Qualification Germany took place in November at electronica, showcasing the exceptional skills of professional competitors. The event saw outstanding performances, with Stéphanie Devy and Thalès Cholet, France, emerging as the regional champions of Germany. Stéphanie secured first place with an impressive score of 733 out of 736 points, the maximum possible, completing the task in just 59 minutes and 39 seconds. She then finished third at the 2024 World Championship two days later. Second place was awarded to Eliane Chesnais, Thalès DMS Etrelles, France, while Janett Winkler, Pretty Electronics, Germany, claimed the third place.
In addition, Thalès Cholet received the Best Company Team at Hand Soldering award for achieving the highest combined score in the competition.
Congratulations to all the winners and participants, and thank you to the sponsors and partners who made this event successful.
2024 IPC Hand Soldering Competition - Estonia
18 October 2024 - The 2024 IPC Hand Soldering Competition - Regional Qualification Estonia, held for the first time at TalTech - Tallinn University of Technology, provided an excellent venue to showcase the nation’s top soldering talents.
Ms Ave Esko from Scanfil plc secured first place with an impressive score of 730 points. As the new Estonia Champion, she represented Estonia at the World Final during electronica in Munich in November. Second place was awarded to Mr Timmo Antso, also from Scanfil plc, with 721 points. After five consecutive titles, Timmo handed over the crown to a new champion. Third place went to Ms Maidrin Koel from Ouman Estonia OÜ, who earned 715 points.
IPC thanks TalTech for hosting the competition on its campus, Tallinn Polütehnikum, an IPC-Licensed Training Center in Estonia, for judging it, and the Estonian Electronics Industries Association for their invaluable support. A special note of appreciation also goes to the event’s sponsors and partners for their contributions to the competition’s success. Congratulations to all participants for their outstanding efforts!
2024 Hand Soldering Competition - United Kingdom
The first hand-soldering regional championship of 2024 kicked off at the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics exhibition in Farnborough. In collaboration with Advanced Rework Technology, the local IPC training centre, the competition attracted more than 15 professional competitors from the local industry.
Justyna Mikolajczyk from Zetex was this year’s UK Hand Soldering Champion, winning the title for the fourth year. Adam Fidura from Dyson placed second and Phil Smith from Custom Interconnect received the third-place award. The top three winners received cash prizes and a complimentary gift from Almit.
Dyson scored 1273 points out of 1472, earning the Best Company Team Award for the regional championship.
Hand Soldering World Championship 2023
The 2023 Hand Soldering World Championship saw 19 champions from around the globe representing 16 countries. We are proud to announce that the 2023 World Hand Soldering Champion title was awarded to Yao Tang from Shenyang Railway Signal in China. She was awarded a cash prize of 1,000€, a certificate from IPC, the 2023 world title trophy, a brand new soldering station from JBC Soldering Tools, a brand new WXSmart multi-awarded soldering station from Weller Tools, and a complimentary gift from Almit.
Keiko Hasebe took the second place in the world championship from Advantest in Japan, and the third place trophy was awarded to Jingjing Xu from Shanghai Railway Communication in China.
2023 Hand Soldering Competition - Germany
The 2023 hand-soldering regional championship at productronica attracted 24 professional competitors over three days, representing 18 European companies.
Stephanie Devy from Thales Chalet became the regional champion of Germany, taking home the 1st place award. The second place was claimed by Marie Letheneule from Thales Chalet, and the third place prize by Laure Ripert from Thales SIX GTS Brives.
Thales Chalet won the Best Company Team award for achieving the highest combined score in the hand-soldering competition.
2023 Hand Soldering Competition - Estonia
Hosted by the 2023 Instrutec regional tradeshow in Tallinn, the competition attracted 40 professional competitors, who took on the challenge to compete for the Estonia National Title. The title of the Estonia regional hand soldering champion was taken by Timmo Antso from Scanfil PLC. The second place was claimed by Jana Oebius from GPV and the third place prize, by Gerli Erdfeldt, from GPV. 9 companies nominated a team, qualifying for the Best Company Team award, which was won by GPV Estonia.
Vincenza, Italy Hand Soldering Competition
Buongiorno from Vicenza, Italy, where the first IPC hand soldering competition was held at Focus on PCB. Congratulations to the top three winners: Alessandro Manicone, Elettronica GF, Enrico Zanchetta, Ermes Elettronica, and Giorgio Agnielli, DynamiΣ PRC! Grazie mille to MIT judges from GestLabs IPC training Center, and our spectacular sponsors Weller Tools, JBC Soldering Tools, Thales, Société Française de Microscopie, OPTILIA, Almit GmbH, Ateliers System Mobilier Industriel, Polygone CAO, and NCAB Group.
Nuremberg Hand Soldering Competition
In Nuremberg, Germany, SMT Connect held an intense hand soldering competition. Twenty-eight participants were tasked with assembling complex PCB under the scrutiny of IPC judges. Top prize went to Janett Winckler, from Prettl Electronics. She was closely followed by Pauline Duval and David Gasniea, both of Thales, who placed second and third respectively. Thanks to competition sponsors Weller Tools, JBC Soldering Thales, Societe Française de Microscopie, Optilia, Almit, AteliersSystem, PolygoneCAO, NCAB and our MIT judges from IPC training centers ETECH Trainingen and Trainalytics.