Precision manufacturing demands mastery. At Novanta, it’s the backbone of how we enable robotics, automation, and next-generation technologies worldwide. That’s why we celebrate individuals who push the boundaries of what exceptional craftsmanship looks like.
This year, that spotlight belongs to Justyna Mikolajczyk, a solderer on our Inductive Sensors team in Cambridge, UK.
From National Champion to World Competitor
After securing her fifth consecutive win at the UK Hand Soldering Competition, Justyna qualified for the prestigious World Hand Soldering Championships, held last month in Munich at Productronica—one of the most respected events in the global electronics industry.
The assignment: Build a complex Printed Circuit Board (PCB) under tight time constraints and unforgiving quality metrics.
The field: 15 contestants from 12 countries, all seasoned experts.
The pressure: Enormous.
Yet Justyna delivered. Only eight participants produced a working PCB, and she was among them—earning an impressive sixth-place finish worldwide.
Precision That Powers Physical AI
Hand soldering excellence isn’t just a competitive skill; it’s foundational to building high-performance sensing technologies that enable physical AI applications—including advanced robotics, warehouse automation, and humanoid platforms.
Every connection matters. Every detail matters. Justyna’s achievement demonstrates the human expertise behind our most advanced systems—the same rigor we apply across Novanta as we engineer for precision, reliability, and breakthrough performance.
Continuing the Journey
Justyna’s next challenge arrives in February at the upcoming UK regional competition, and we’re committed to supporting her continued growth. Achievements like these not only strengthen our team—they reinforce our culture of excellence and inspire others across the organization.