Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1540984
44 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 F E AT U R E A RT I C L E by J u a n B a l d e r ra m a , Global Electronics Association México T here were no stadium lights, roaring crowds, or a referee blowing a whistle. But on Sept. 25, the energy felt exactly like a championship final. The Richard E. Dauch Institute for Education and Development at IECA, in Silao, Mexico, transformed into a battleground—not for goals, but for flawless solder joints. The audience held its breath, knowing they were witnessing something historic: Mexico's very first National Hand Soldering Championship. The Road to Glory: A Grueling Elimination Round Nearly 200 professionals joined the "group stage," but only 12 made it to the grand final. The playing field? Workstations lined with soldering irons, tim- ers, and strict technical requirements. The compe- tition followed the IPC-J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 standards at the toughest level: Class 3, the gold standard for sectors like aerospace, defense, and medical devices, where failure is not an option. Every solder joint felt like a penalty kick in over- time requiring precision, nerves of steel, and zero room for error. The Crowd and Sponsors: Backed by Industry Giants No major championship is complete without an all- star lineup. In this case, the sponsors and partners brought elite support: JBC Soldering Tools, Hakko, the Government of Guanajuato, AHR Training Center, Mexico's First Soldering Championship