Who will be the best solderer in the Benelux?

For the second time at the E&A fair: the election for the best solderer in the Benelux. Once again this year, professionals from all over the country will compete for the prestigious title. And you don't just get that, because almost fifty top solders are competing for the coveted prize.

This edition has chosen the theme 'classic craftsmanship'. A theme that refers to the rich history of the soldering trade that was practiced in Mesopotamia five thousand years ago. Soldering is derived from the Latin word 'solidare' (to fasten) and that reflects the core of the profession: two pieces of metal are connected by liquid metal alloy that hardens after cooling. This keeps the mechanical and electrical connection intact and environmental factors such as humidity and temperature do not affect operation.

Reliable and stable
 Especially in electronics, the reliability and stability of soldered connections is essential. The equipment must last a long time and function as intended. Most components in electronics are soldered onto printed circuit boards and this is happening at an increasingly rapid pace and with increasingly smaller materials. Some components are even so small that they are not visible to the naked eye. This places different demands on the solder's craftsmanship and also on the soldering techniques and materials used than twenty years ago. In addition, sustainability is high on the agenda of electronics companies and this also brings new challenges for solders worldwide.

Craftsman in the sun
The profession is changing quickly, but one thing remains the same as it was five thousand years ago: a steady hand and a sharp eye. Machines can do a lot, but human creativity is irreplaceable. That is why we put the old-fashioned craftsman in the spotlight during the fair. Each participant in the competition will have 45 minutes on the exhibition floor to demonstrate his or her soldering skills to the public. During that time, as many connectors and components as possible should be soldered to an empty PCB. A professional jury from the PIEK training institute assesses the results on various criteria, with quality being at least as important as quantity.

Every day of the fair, the jury chooses a winner who can take home a Weller soldering station. The competition is sponsored by nine exhibitors:  3T, Cobar Europe, Conrad, Human Workspace, Lemo Connectors, NCAB Group, Phuntronix, Romex and Tooltronics. 

Take the challenge
Do you dare to demonstrate your soldering skills under the watchful eye of our trade fair audience? live to show? Take up the challenge and sign up for the competition!
Do you not want to participate yourself, but would you like to see the candidates in action? Then register for a trade fair visit for free and encourage the participants.