Sep 01, 2011 
21 Competitors from 15 Companies Ready to Bring It - Only Three Open Slots Remain
Bragging rights are on the line as the First Annual IPC Midwest Soldering Competition takes place, September 21-22, in Schaumburg, Ill., to determine the Best Hand-Soldering Technician in the Midwest for 2011. 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. Twenty-one competitors from 15 companies have answered the call for the challenge leaving only three slots open for additional participants.
The competition will take place on the show floor at IPC Midwest on September 21, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm and September 22, 10:30 am-2:00 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.
“We are thrilled with the caliber of individuals registered for the competition,” says Kris Roberson, IPC manager of assembly technology and coordinator of the competition. He notes that 13 contestants are certified to IPC-A-610, seven to J-STD-001, seven to IPC-7711/7721 and five to all three. “It’s been great to hear how these companies have really gotten into this competition, many of which held internal competitions to send the best of their workforce — and I’m sure we’ll see strong support at the event with cheering sections,” Roberson adds.
The 2011 competitors represent:
- Accelerated Assemblies
- Bay tek Games Inc.
- Dynalab, Inc.
- Evotronics, Inc.
- Hegel Holdings LLC
- International Control Services, Inc.
- James Instruments
- Minarik Drives
- Motorola Solutions
- Northrop Grumman
- Pole Zero Corporation
- Pro-Active Engineering
- Raven Industries
- Specialized Technology Electronics
- Universal Avionics Systems Corp.
Cash prizes of $500, $250 and $100 will be awarded by IPC to the top three finalists at the close of the exhibition on September 22. In addition, the first place finisher will win an MX-5010 workstation, compliments of OK International/Metcal, and will own the coveted bragging rights as the Best Hand-Soldering Technician in the Midwest for 2011.
Individuals interested in participating in the competition should register at www.IPCMidwestShow.org/competition.
IPC Midwest will be held September 21-22, 2011, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, 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 50 of the Midwest’s top electronics manufacturing equipment and supply companies, visit www.IPCMidwestShow.org.
IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global trade association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,000 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 $1.85 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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