SAN DIEGO --  A Samsung Thales operator won the IPC crown as world's best hand solderer at the trade group's annual conference last month.

Min Seok Kim took home the fourth annual IPC Hand Soldering World Championship. The event drew eight contestants from China, Europe, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the US.

The contestants were asked to build a functional electronics assembly within one hour. Kim scored 247 of a possible 248 points, netting himself a $1,000 in cash and a Metcal MX 5210 soldering station.

Also with a score of 247 points but with a slightly slower time, Hidemasa Kihara, Toshiba Design & Manufacturing Service (Japan), earned second place in the championship. Hasrol Mizam B. Hassan, HGST Technologies (Malaysia), took third place with a score of 244. Assemblies were judged by Master IPC Trainers, Helena Pasquito, EPTAC Corporation; Robert Fornefeld, L-3 Communications; and Shelly Holt, L-3 Communications.

"Those 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 product development and competition coordinator. “We look forward to the upcoming hand soldering competitions taking place in Europe and Asia.