State-of-the-ART training pays off for competition winners

The National Electronics Week exhibition in Birmingham hosted the first IPC Hand Soldering competition to be held in the UK. All three winners in the recently held IPC Hand Soldering Competition are employed by companies trained by Advanced Rework Technology Ltd-ART Ltd Both first and second place winners in the recently held IPC Hand Soldering competition are employed by CIL Ltd, a company who have been trained to IPC standards by Advanced Rework Technology Ltd. Andrew Smith achieved first place with a near perfect score of 167 out of 176. Helen Reynolds came a close second with a score of 157. In third place was Mark Smith of CSM Electronics with a score of 150. Mark is an IPC Certified Trainer trained by ART Ltd. Along with a cheque for £300 the winner will be flown to San Diego next year, courtesy of the IPC, to represent the UK and take part in the world championship IPC Hand Soldering competition. Each of the delegates were required to assemble and solder a working PCB assembly and was judged on workmanship, assembly, soldering and time to complete the PCB. The Judging was carried out by Mal Maitland and Jackie Mellar from TRW, both of whom are IPC Certified Trainers, who were also trained by ART Ltd.