The fifth annual IPC Hand Soldering World Championship at IPC APEX EXPO® March 16-17 drew 10 competitors from around the world. Victors from IPC hand soldering competitions in Indonesia, China, Europe, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and India were challenged with building a functional electronics assembly within a one-hour time limit. Completing the championship round with a score of 534 points out of 550, Vu Thi Xuan, UMC Electronics Vietnam Ltd., was crowned champion, earning her a $1,000 cash prize, a new America Hakko Products, Inc. soldering station and bragging rights as the world's best hand solderer.

With a score of 531, Li Ying, East China Institute of Electronic Engineering, earned second place in the championship. Hyo-Jung Back, LIGNex1 Co., Ltd. (Korea) took third place with a score of 524. Assemblies were judged by Master IPC Trainers, Robert Fornefeld, L-3 Communications; Woo-Che Shim, The 86th Avionics Maintenance Depot, Republic of Korea Air Force; and Shelley Holt, L-3 Communications.

“Colleagues and show attendees who cheered on the competitors got a first-hand look at the best-of-the-best hand soldering talent across the globe,"said Kris Roberson, IPC manager of certification and training and competition coordinator. "We look forward to the upcoming hand soldering competitions taking place in Europe and Asia.

"IPC thanks Premier Sponsors, Alpha Assembly Solutions, America Hakko Products, Inc., JBC Tools USA, Inc., Metcal, and Supporter Vision Engineering for their support of the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship,"added Roberson.

For information on upcoming IPC Hand Soldering Competitions, visitwww.ipc.org/events.

IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,700 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 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Brussels, Belgium; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.