APEX EXPO 2026 

APEX EXPO is the premier event in North America for the electronics industry. OEMs, EMS providers, PCB manufacturers and industry professionals from around the globe come together to access the latest technical content, contribute to standards development, and network with the industry's largest gathering of capital equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and product innovators in design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly, and test. The event offers nearly endless opportunities for education and networking. Attendees gain access to cutting-edge technologies, advanced materials, and the latest processes, equipping them with the knowledge, technical skills, and best practices to reimagine the possibilities to drive your business forward. 

Introduced in France for the first time, the Cable & Wire Harness Competition (CWH) will take place during Global Industrie 2026 in Paris Nord Villepinte.

Participants will compete under timed conditions (60 minutes) using identical materials and tools, with results evaluated by certified IPC judges. Each competitor must produce a fully functional wire harness assembly within the time limit, following the provided drawings and standards.

Judging criteria include:

• Crimp accuracy and quality of terminations
• Correct routing, labeling, and bundling
• Compliance with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards
• Overall appearance and functionality
• Speed of completion

All tools and materials will be supplied. Participants should wear ESD-safe clothing or a company-branded coat (if any).

Prizes for Professionals

🏆 1st place: €300

🥈 2nd place: €200

🥉 3rd place: €100

Participation is free of charge. No IPC membership or prior certification is required. Registration is open to all professionals and apprentices working in cable and wire harness assembly.

⚠️ Places are limited — register early to secure your participation.

REGISTER NOW

You will receive a confirmation email specifying your date and time to compete. 

Contacts are:

📧 Philippe Léonard, Global Electronics Association Europe Director – PhilippeLeonard@electronics.org

📧 Anatolii Kazmin, Europe Event Manager – anatoliikazmin@electronics.org

Join the France Regional Qualification for the IPC Hand Soldering Competition (HSC) at Global Industrie 2026 in Paris Nord Villepinte on 30 March – 2 April 2026.

Skilled soldering experts (F/M) will compete for 60 minutes on a complex circuit board assembly to win the 2026 National title, earn a cash prize, and compete for a coveted spot at the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship, to take place at electronica in Munich in November 2026.

Competition for Professionals

The professional competitors will be judged by IPC Master Instructors (MITs) on their ability to solder a complex printed circuit board within a maximum time of 60 minutes, adhering to IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria.

Additional criteria will include the quality of the results achieved and of the assembly process, the overall electrical functionality, and the speed at which the assembly was produced.

Prizes for Professionals

The professionals will receive cash prizes:

• 1st place – 300 €
• 2nd place – 200 €
• 3rd place – 100 €

🏆 IPC Hand Soldering World Championship:

The winner will be invited by the Global Electronics Association (all expenses covered by the Global Electronics Association) to compete in the HSC World Final in November 2026 at electronica tradeshow in Munich, Germany.

🏢 Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award:

This year again, nominate a team to win the Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award.

For any company enlisting 2 or 3 competitors, the highest combined scores of the 2 best competitors from the same company will determine which company will receive the HSC Best Company Team Award.

Registration

Registration is free of charge. You do not need to be an IPC member to take part. You do not need to be IPC-certified to take part.

Register Now 

You will receive a confirmation email specifying your date and time to compete.

For more information, please get in touch with:

📧 Philippe Léonard, Global Electronics Association Europe Director – PhilippeLeonard@electronics.org

📧 Anatolii Kazmin, Europe Event Manager – anatoliikazmin@electronics.org

Venue Information

Global Industrie 2026

Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre

ZAC Paris Nord 2

93420 Villepinte

France

Introduced in Hungary for the first time, the Cable & Wire Harness Competition (CWH) will take place during InnoElectro 2026 in Budapest.

This competition invites skilled technicians and harness assembly specialists to demonstrate their expertise in wire preparation, crimping, splicing, and assembly — all under the exacting requirements of IPC/WHMA-A-620, the industry standard for cable and wire harness assemblies.

Participants will compete under timed conditions (60 minutes) using identical materials and tools, with results evaluated by certified IPC judges.

Competition for Professionals

Each competitor must produce a fully functional wire harness assembly within the time limit, in accordance with the provided drawings and standards.

Judging criteria include:

• Crimp accuracy and quality of terminations
• Correct routing, labeling, and bundling
• Compliance with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards
• Overall appearance and functionality
• Speed of completion

All tools and materials will be supplied.

Participants should wear ESD-safe clothing or a company-branded coat (if any).

Prizes for Professionals

🏆 1st place: €300

🥈 2nd place: €200

🥉 3rd place: €100

Registration is easy. There is no cost to participate, no membership requirements, and registration is open to all who work with cable and wire assemblies. 

Register Now 

You will receive a confirmation email specifying your date and time to compete.

For more information, please get in touch with:

📧 Philippe Léonard, Global Electronics Association Europe Director – PhilippeLeonard@electronics.org

📧 Anatolii Kazmin, Europe Event Manager – anatoliikazmin@electronics.org

Competition Location:

InnoElectro 2026

BOK Sport Hall

Dózsa György út 1.

1146 Budapest

Hungary

Join the Hungary Regional Qualification for the IPC Hand Soldering Competition (HSC) at InnoElectro 2026 in Budapest on 21–23 April 2026.

Skilled soldering experts (F/M) will compete for 60 minutes on a complex circuit board assembly to win the 2026 National title, earn a cash prize, and compete for a coveted spot at the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship, to take place at electronica in Munich in November 2026.

Competition for Professionals

The professional competitors will be judged by IPC Master Instructors (MITs) on soldering a complex printed circuit board within 60 minutes, in accordance with IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria.

Additional criteria will include the quality of the results achieved and of the assembly process, the overall electrical functionality, and the speed at which the assembly was produced.

Prizes for Professionals

The professionals will receive cash prizes:

• 1st place – 300 €
• 2nd place – 200 €
• 3rd place – 100 €

IPC Hand Soldering World Championship:

The winner will be invited by the Global Electronics Association (with all expenses covered) to compete in the HSC World Final in November 2026 at the electronica tradeshow in Munich, Germany.

Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award:

This year again, nominate a team to win the Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award.

For any company enlisting 2 or 3 competitors, the highest combined scores of the 2 best competitors from the same company will determine which company will receive the HSC Best Company Team Award.

Registration is easy

There is no cost to register. You do not need to be a Global Electronics Association member or be IPC-Certified. Registration is simple. Just complete the registration form and book your competition slot.

Register Now

For more information, please get in touch with:

📧 Philippe Léonard, Global Electronics Association Europe Director – PhilippeLeonard@electronics.org

📧 Anatolii Kazmin, Europe Event Manager – anatoliikazmin@electronics.org

The Competition Location:

InnoElectro 2026

BOK Sport Hall

Dózsa György út 1.

1146 Budapest

Hungary

Why Attend the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE)?
Produced by WHMA/Global Electronics Association, the ONLY trade association exclusively representing the cable and wire harness manufacturing industry including manufacturers, their suppliers and customers, EWPTE is where the industry comes together with more than 3,000 attendees and nearly 200 exhibitors to find solutions to challenging wire problems through training and education and for the opportunity to network with industry leaders and subject matter experts.

Attendees at all career stages can expect to Harness the Future through:

• Education & Training
• Professional Development Courses with content designed to deliver new information, skills, and techniques related to the cable and wire harness industry.
• Technical Conference Sessions presented by engineers, researchers, academics, technical experts, and industry leaders who will share new technical data, significant results from experiments and case studies, emphasizing new techniques and discussing trends of interest with appropriate technical test results.
• Networking Opportunities by connecting with industry leaders and subject matter experts.
• Accessing New Technologies and finding new suppliers to find solutions to your challenging wire problems on the show floor from nearly 200 exhibitors.
  Who Should Attend?

Anyone who designs, specifies, purchases, installs, sells, maintains or manufactures electronic cable assemblies, cord sets, wiring harnesses and other related products for the following industries:

• Aerospace
• Automotive/Transportation (Automobiles, Rail, Buses. Trucks)
• Consumer Technology (Business Equipment and Appliances)
• Defense/Military
• Medical Instruments
• Off Highway (Constructions, Agriculture and Mining)
• Recreational (RV, Marine OPE & RTV)

Introduced in the United States for the first time, the Cable & Wire Harness Competition (CWH) will take place during the EWPTE – Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This competition invites skilled technicians and harness assembly specialists to demonstrate their expertise in wire preparation, crimping, splicing, and assembly — all under the exacting requirements of IPC/WHMA-A-620, the industry standard for cable and wire harness assemblies.

Participants will compete under timed conditions (60 minutes) using identical materials and tools, with results evaluated by certified IPC judges.

Competition for Professionals

Each competitor must produce a fully functional wire harness assembly within the time limit, following the provided drawings and standards.

Judging criteria include:

• Crimp accuracy and quality of terminations
• Correct routing, labeling, and bundling
• Compliance with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards
• Overall appearance and functionality
• Speed of completion

All tools and materials will be supplied.

Participants should wear ESD-safe clothing or a company-branded coat.

Prizes for Professionals

🏆 1st place: $300 Gift Card

🥈 2nd place: $200 Gift Card

🥉 3rd place: $100 Gift Card

How to Register

There is no fee to register, all wire harness professionals are welcome and there is no Global Electronics Association membership required.

Places are limited — register early to secure your participation.

Register NOW

You will receive a confirmation email specifying your date and time to compete.

For more information, please get in touch with:

📧 Philippe Léonard, Global Electronics Association Europe Director – PhilippeLeonard@electronics.org

📧 Anatolii Kazmin, Europe Event Manager – anatoliikazmin@electronics.org

On Site:

Dave Bergman, Global Electronics Association, VP International Relations, davidbergman@electronics.org

Kelly Lawrence, Global Electronics Association, Account Manager, kellylawrence@electronics.org

This event will be located at: 

EWPTE – Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo 2026

Baird Center (Milwaukee Convention Center)

400 W Wisconsin Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53203

United States

Join the Italy Regional Qualification for the IPC Hand Soldering Competition (HSC) at Focus on PCB 2026 in Vicenza on 13–14 May 2026.

Skilled soldering experts (F/M) will compete for 60 minutes on a complex circuit board assembly to win the 2026 National title, earn a cash prize, and compete for a coveted spot at the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship, to take place at electronica in Munich in November 2026.

Competition for Professionals

The professional competitors will be judged by IPC Master Instructors (MITs) on soldering a complex printed circuit board within 60 minutes, in accordance with IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria.

Additional criteria will include the quality of the results achieved and of the assembly process, the overall electrical functionality, and the speed at which the assembly was produced.

Prizes for Professionals

The professionals will receive cash prizes:

• 1st place – 300 €
• 2nd place – 200 €
• 3rd place – 100 €

IPC Hand Soldering World Championship:

The winner will be invited by the Global Electronics Association (with all expenses covered) to compete in the HSC World Final in November 2026 at the electronica tradeshow in Munich, Germany.

Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award:

This year again, nominate a team to win the Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award.

For any company enlisting 2 or 3 competitors, the highest combined scores of the 2 best competitors from the same company will determine which company will receive the HSC Best Company Team Award.

Registration is easy

There is no cost to register. You do not need to be a Global Electronics Association member or be IPC-Certified. Registration is simple. Just complete the registration form and book your competition slot.

REGISTER NOW

You will receive a confirmation email specifying your date and time to compete.

For more information, please get in touch with:

📧 Philippe Léonard, Global Electronics Association Europe Director – PhilippeLeonard@electronics.org

📧 Anatolii Kazmin, Europe Event Manager – anatoliikazmin@electronics.org

Venue Information

Focus on PCB 2026

Vicenza Expo Centre (Fiera di Vicenza)

Viale della Oreficeria, 16

36100 Vicenza

Italy

Introduced in Italy for the first time, the Cable & Wire Harness Competition (CWH) will take place during Focus on PCB 2026 in Vicenza.

This competition invites skilled technicians and harness assembly specialists to demonstrate their expertise in wire preparation, crimping, splicing, and assembly — all under the exacting requirements of IPC/WHMA-A-620, the industry standard for cable and wire harness assemblies.

Participants will compete under timed conditions (60 minutes) using identical materials and tools, with results evaluated by certified IPC judges.

Competition for Professionals 

Each competitor must produce a fully functional wire harness assembly within the time limit, in accordance with the provided drawings and standards.

Judging criteria include:

• Crimp accuracy and quality of terminations
• Correct routing, labeling, and bundling
• Compliance with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards
• Overall appearance and functionality
• Speed of completion

All tools and materials will be supplied.

Participants should wear ESD-safe clothing or a company-branded coat 

Prizes for Professionals

🏆 1st place: €300

🥈 2nd place: €200

🥉 3rd place: €100

Registration is easy

There is no cost to register. You do not need to be a Global Electronics Association member or be IPC-Certified. Registration is simple. Just complete the registration form and book your competition slot.

Places are limited — register early to secure your participation.

REGISTER NOW

You will receive a confirmation email specifying your date and time to compete.

For more information, please get in touch with:

📧 Philippe Léonard, Global Electronics Association Europe Director – PhilippeLeonard@electronics.org

📧 Anatolii Kazmin, Europe Event Manager – anatoliikazmin@electronics.org

Venue

Focus on PCB 2026

Vicenza Expo Centre (Fiera di Vicenza)

Viale della Oreficeria, 16

36100 Vicenza

Italy