IPC hosted its popular IPC Hand Soldering Competition in Tallinn, Estonia October 12-14, 2022 with Instrutec 2022 and the Estonian Electronics Industries Association and welcoming 31 competitors from 14 European electronics companies.
Skilled contestants competed to build an assembly in accordance with IPC-A-610 – Class 3 criteria process 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 task.
On the winner’s podium at Instrutec 2022 were:
First Place is returning to first prize winner Timmo Antso from Scanfil. He received a certificate, a cash prize of 300 EUR, a soldering station from sponsor Hakko and a gift from sponsor Almit. As the winner, Ansto qualified for the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship at electronica in Munich, Germany, November 15–18, 2022.
Second place goes to Ave Esko from Scanfil. She received a certificate, a cash prize of 200 EUR, and a soldering station from sponsor Hakko and a gift from sponsor Almit.
Third Place goes to Karen Andresoo, Enics. She received a certificate, a cash prize of 100 EUR, a soldering station from sponsor Hakko, and a gift from sponsor Almit.
Best Company Team Award
IPC and the Estonian Electronics Industries Association presented the Best Company Team Award, recognizing the company which engaged the best team, with overall score based on the best scores of competitors from that company. All companies that registered two or more competitors were automatically entered into the Best Company Team category. For the Estonian competition, 11 companies were eligible for the Best Company Team Award. The top prize was presented to Scanfil, with a winning score achieved by Scanfil competitors Timmo Ansto and Ave Esko.
IPC thanks the Instrutec tradeshow and the Estonian Electronics Industries Association for hosting the event. IPC is grateful to the HSC sponsors for their generous support:
Gold sponsors: Hakko, Thales, and Ateliers System
Silver Sponsors: Optilia, Almit, Polygone CAO, SFM-Societe Française de Microscopie, the local IPC licensed training center Tallinna Polüteknikum and the Estonian Electronics Industries Association
IPC Europe director Philippe Leonard said “IPC thanks and congratulates all the participants and their companies for their interest and for taking up the challenge. We look forward to seeing all of the first-place winners compete in the Hand Soldering World Championship at electronica in Munich, next month.”