Aug 08, 2012 Bragging rights are on the line as the Second Annual IPC Midwest Soldering Competition takes place, August 22–23, in Schaumburg, Ill., to determine the Best Hand-Soldering Technician in the Midwest for 2012. Held in conjunction with IPC Midwest Conference & Exhibition, the competition will pit competitors against each other to build a functional electronics assembly within a 30-minute time limit. Multiple competitors from nine companies have answered the call for the challenge, leaving ten slots open for additional participants.
To date, the roster of competitors represents:
• BAE Systems
• CAMtek, Inc.
• International Control Services, Inc.
Plexus Appleton
Plexus Chicago
• Plexus Neenah
• Pro-Active Engineering, Inc.
• Raven Industries, Inc.
STC (Solder Training & Certification)
Companies like Plexus have answered the call for a little friendly competition. “We have a lot of talent here at Plexus, and the hand soldering competition is a great opportunity to showcase our skills,” says Daniel Jurishi, associate process engineer at Plexus Chicago. “We really enjoy cheering each other on — it’s great for company morale.”
The competition will take place on the show floor at IPC Midwest on August 22, 1:00 pm–4:00 pm and August 23, 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. Assemblies will be judged on soldering in accordance with IPC-A-610E Class 3 criteria, the speed at which the assembly was produced and the overall electrical functionality of the assembly. IPC-A-610E Master Instructors will serve as the judges. Sponsors for the competition include PACE Worldwide and Cobar Solder Products, Inc.
Cash prizes of $500, $250 and $100 will be awarded by IPC to the top three finalists at the close of the exhibition on Thursday, August 23. The first place finisher also will win a WSJ 100 Soldering Station, compliments of PACE Worldwide, and will own the coveted bragging rights as the Best Hand-Soldering Technician in the Midwest for 2012.
In addition, IPC will award the winner with a trip (hotel and airfare) to IPC APEX EXPO® 2013 in San Diego to compete in the IPC Hand Soldering Grand Championship. The winners from IPC Midwest, IPC APEX EXPO, China and India will face off in the Grand Championship on February 21, 2013.
Individuals interested in participating in the competition should register at www.IPCMidwestShow.org/competition.
IPC Midwest will be held August 22–23, 2012, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, in Schaumburg, Ill. Free exhibit hall registration is available to pre-registrants. To register or for more information on all the activities taking place at IPC Midwest, including the exhibition featuring more than 65 of the Midwest’s top electronics manufacturing equipment and supply companies, visit www.IPCMidwestShow.org.
IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,100 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2.02 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore, India; and Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, China.
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