On Nov. 18, IPC International, Inc. held the 2022 IPC World Hand Soldering Championship Competition on the same venue of electronica 2022 in Munich, Germany. Ten competitors representing countries in Asia and Europe participated in the competition. Engineers who won regional competitions held in various parts of the world displayed their expertise in hand soldering. Eliane Chesnais of Thales Etrelles, France, representing Germany, was named this year’s winner.

Mainly, the IPC World Hand Soldering Championship Competition is being held with the aim of improving soldering technology. This year’s World Championship Competition was in its 10th edition since the 1st World Championship Competition was held in 2011. This annual event is mainly held in the United States or countries in Europe. However, it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Germany Wins First Place

Representatives from China, Vietnam, France, England, Germany, Estonia and Hungary, and Japan, participated in this year’s competition. Specifically, representatives from India could not participate reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As usual, this year was a tough competition. Eliane Chesnais of Thales Etrelles, France, representing Germany, emerged as this year’s first place winner. Winning second is Pauline Duval also from Thales Etrelles, France. Meanwhile, Xianchao Wang of Shenyang Railway Signal, who represented China, placed third.

Delighted from the results of the competition Chesnais said, “I cannot believe that I won first place. I am proud that my soldering skill has been recognized.”

In general, competitors demonstrated speed and accuracy to mount about 100 electronic components by hand soldering within a specified time limit of 60 minutes. Specifically, Masaki Nakamichi from Panasonic Corporation, representing Japan, vied for the title.  

Nakamichi said, “Although there are many ultrasmall components, the speed and accuracy level of mounting components without the use of microscope determines victory or defeat.” 

Setting International Soldering Standard

Specifically, IPC is headquartered in Illinois, in the United States, and was founded in 1957. Mainly, it sets international standards on qualities and processes of electronic components, printed wiring boards, and manufacturing equipment. Manufacturers of diverse products adopt standards set by IPC. These products range from automobiles, automotive electronic devices, smartphones, digital home electric appliances, aviation instruments and medical equipment.  At present, it has more than 4,000 members, mainly international companies. 

Yusaku Kono of Japan Unix Co., Ltd., who serves as IPC Japan representative, said, “The world championship has become a very high-level competition. Skilled engineers who won preliminaries in regional competitions around the world vie for this event. It is significant that the world championship competition was held for the first time in three years. I hope engineers around the world are honing their high-skill technologies setting their sights for the world competition.”