Analysis
First Annual IPC APEX EXPO Hand Soldering Competition Looking for Technicians Who Can Bring It
Move over Top Chef and Project Runway, IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announces the first annual IPC APEX EXPO® Hand Soldering Competition, February 28–29, 2012, at the San Diego Convention Center. This skills competition will pit competitors against each other to build a functional electronics assembly within a 30-minute time limit. The winner of the two-day competition will go on to compete against the winner of the IPC Midwest competition for the title of IPC Grand Champion.
“MIPC Master Instructors will judge assemblies on soldering in accordance with IPC-A-610E, overall electrical functionality of assembly and the speed at which the assembly was produced.
In addition to pocketing a cash prize of $500, the winner will own bragging rights as the Best Hand-Soldering Technician in the West. Prizes of $250 and $100 will be awarded to two runners up.
The winner of the IPC APEX EXPO competition will then go head-to-head with Nichole DeVries, CIT, an instructor with Raven Industries, in the IPC HAND SOLDERING GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP on March 1.
DeVries won the IPC Midwest competition in September 2011. In addition to pocketing a cash prize of $1,000, the winner will own bragging rights as the IPC Hand Soldering Grand Champion.
IPC APEX EXPO Hand Soldering Competition entries will be accepted until December 31, 2011. Competitors will be selected from all submitted entries. Competition spots will be announced and the competitors notified by e-mail on or before January 15, 2012.