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Japanese PM shipments up 4% on last year
Japanese
PM shipments
up 4% on last year of iron powder has been shipped, a rise of 3% on last year. The improvement in copper sales has been even greater, with an ll’% increase to 3014 tonnes. Japanese Powder Metallurgy Association; tel: + 813-3862-6646; fax: + 81-3. 5687-0599.
JAPANESE shipments of powder metallurgy (PM) parts have totalled ‘Y-61 032 million for the first six months of 1995, an increase of 4% on the same period in 1994. The best performing sectors have been the two largest volume markets, bearings and structural parts. The Japanese Powder Metallurgy Association (JPMA) reports that sales of bearings have risen 6% compared with last year to total Y7059 million, while structural part shipments are up 4% to ‘f48 806 million for the six month period. Despite the overall upturn, shipments in three of the remaining four JPMA categories are all below the 1994 figure. Frictional parts sales are down 5%, electrical contacts have dropped 11X, while electrical brushes are 9% weaker than the same period last year. The exception, is the miscella-
neous PM products category, where sales have risen 2% to Y530 million. The good start to the year is raising hopes that the recovery in Japan’s PM industry is continuing. Last year, when the industry posted total sales of ‘Y 117 million, was the first time in three years that ship-
ments had increased. In 1993 sales fell to 4112 million compared with 4126 million in 1991. Japanese powder shipments are reflecting the pattern shown by PM parts sales with increases in consumption of both iron and copper powders. A total of 49 941 tonnes
Goodfellow expands powder range
WD-40
Handbook covers tool /material selection
finds
PM role
A COMMON sight around the world as a maintenance and lubricating spray, WD-40 has a GOODFELLOWCambridge Ltd, number of more unusual inthe UK-based custom metals dustrial uses. and powder specialist, has exMost of these are regarded panded its portfolio of alloys as trade secrets by firms such and pure metals. as Siemens and Bosch who use The company, which pri- WI-40 in their manufacturing marily serves the research mar- processes to steal a march on ket, has increased its product their competitors. However, range in response to increasing one use which has come to market demand. It now pro- light from the Far East is WD duces 270 alloys and pure 40’s role in the production of metals as standard items, many powder metallurgy (PM) parts. in powder form. In addition, The Korea Powder Metallurgy Goodfellow will produce vlr- Co,. based in Seoul, South Korea, has been using the tually any other alloy composiproduct since 1981. tion as a non-standard item. Plant director G.S In says Goodfellow calls on a number of methods for the manu- the WD-40 is added to the powder mix where it acts as facture of alloys, the a lubricant reducing friction composition of which can be between the material and the specified in atomic percent surfaces of the die walls and or weight percent, depending core rods. The product ensuron specific requirements. es the green part can be reThe alloys can be melted under moved easily without any air, vacuum or inert gas, and additional lubrication, while it range of compositions is viralso improves the rust resistant tually unlimited. characteristics of the parts. Goodfellow Cambridge Ltd; WD-40 Co; tel: +44-1908tel: + 44-1223-568068; 560808; fax: + 44-1908. f~: + 44-1223-420639. 564093. 4
MPR October
1995
4 HANDBOOK specifically designed to help in the difficult ;ask of selecting the right material for cutting tools, moulds and dies has recently been released by ASM International. The AS&f Specialty Handbook: Toot Materials is a 450 page volume that should prove valuable to anyone involved with machining, metalworking or speci@ing materials for industrial components. The first of the handbooks four sections will be of the most interest to the powder metallurgy (PM) fraternity as it looks at the applications, advantages and limitations of the six classes of cutting tool materials - tool steels (both conventional wrought and powder metallurgy, cobalt alloys, cemented carbides, cermets, ceramics and ultrahard materials. There is also discussion of recent developments in wear resistant coatings and of abrasives used in grinding operations. Section two covers the se-
lection of ferrous and nonferrous materials for the range of hot-work tooling, coldwork tooling and plastic moulding processes, including die casting, forging, blanking and cold extrusion. Heat treatment and the secondary processing of tool and die steels are covered in the third section, while microstructural analysis and failure analysis are covered in the final section. The handbook is extensively illustrated (graphs, line drawings, photos and micrographs) and is well referenced to allow users to follow up on points of interest. It is priced at US$159. The handbook has been edited by Joseph R. Davis of Davis & Associates, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA, who has worked on two previous handbooks for ASM International. ASM International, Men-her Services Center; tel: + l216-338-5151; fm: + l-216. 338-4634.
PM shipments
up 4% on last year of iron powder has been shipped, a rise of 3% on last year. The improvement in copper sales has been even greater, with an ll’% increase to 3014 tonnes. Japanese Powder Metallurgy Association; tel: + 813-3862-6646; fax: + 81-3. 5687-0599.
JAPANESE shipments of powder metallurgy (PM) parts have totalled ‘Y-61 032 million for the first six months of 1995, an increase of 4% on the same period in 1994. The best performing sectors have been the two largest volume markets, bearings and structural parts. The Japanese Powder Metallurgy Association (JPMA) reports that sales of bearings have risen 6% compared with last year to total Y7059 million, while structural part shipments are up 4% to ‘f48 806 million for the six month period. Despite the overall upturn, shipments in three of the remaining four JPMA categories are all below the 1994 figure. Frictional parts sales are down 5%, electrical contacts have dropped 11X, while electrical brushes are 9% weaker than the same period last year. The exception, is the miscella-
neous PM products category, where sales have risen 2% to Y530 million. The good start to the year is raising hopes that the recovery in Japan’s PM industry is continuing. Last year, when the industry posted total sales of ‘Y 117 million, was the first time in three years that ship-
ments had increased. In 1993 sales fell to 4112 million compared with 4126 million in 1991. Japanese powder shipments are reflecting the pattern shown by PM parts sales with increases in consumption of both iron and copper powders. A total of 49 941 tonnes
Goodfellow expands powder range
WD-40
Handbook covers tool /material selection
finds
PM role
A COMMON sight around the world as a maintenance and lubricating spray, WD-40 has a GOODFELLOWCambridge Ltd, number of more unusual inthe UK-based custom metals dustrial uses. and powder specialist, has exMost of these are regarded panded its portfolio of alloys as trade secrets by firms such and pure metals. as Siemens and Bosch who use The company, which pri- WI-40 in their manufacturing marily serves the research mar- processes to steal a march on ket, has increased its product their competitors. However, range in response to increasing one use which has come to market demand. It now pro- light from the Far East is WD duces 270 alloys and pure 40’s role in the production of metals as standard items, many powder metallurgy (PM) parts. in powder form. In addition, The Korea Powder Metallurgy Goodfellow will produce vlr- Co,. based in Seoul, South Korea, has been using the tually any other alloy composiproduct since 1981. tion as a non-standard item. Plant director G.S In says Goodfellow calls on a number of methods for the manu- the WD-40 is added to the powder mix where it acts as facture of alloys, the a lubricant reducing friction composition of which can be between the material and the specified in atomic percent surfaces of the die walls and or weight percent, depending core rods. The product ensuron specific requirements. es the green part can be reThe alloys can be melted under moved easily without any air, vacuum or inert gas, and additional lubrication, while it range of compositions is viralso improves the rust resistant tually unlimited. characteristics of the parts. Goodfellow Cambridge Ltd; WD-40 Co; tel: +44-1908tel: + 44-1223-568068; 560808; fax: + 44-1908. f~: + 44-1223-420639. 564093. 4
MPR October
1995
4 HANDBOOK specifically designed to help in the difficult ;ask of selecting the right material for cutting tools, moulds and dies has recently been released by ASM International. The AS&f Specialty Handbook: Toot Materials is a 450 page volume that should prove valuable to anyone involved with machining, metalworking or speci@ing materials for industrial components. The first of the handbooks four sections will be of the most interest to the powder metallurgy (PM) fraternity as it looks at the applications, advantages and limitations of the six classes of cutting tool materials - tool steels (both conventional wrought and powder metallurgy, cobalt alloys, cemented carbides, cermets, ceramics and ultrahard materials. There is also discussion of recent developments in wear resistant coatings and of abrasives used in grinding operations. Section two covers the se-
lection of ferrous and nonferrous materials for the range of hot-work tooling, coldwork tooling and plastic moulding processes, including die casting, forging, blanking and cold extrusion. Heat treatment and the secondary processing of tool and die steels are covered in the third section, while microstructural analysis and failure analysis are covered in the final section. The handbook is extensively illustrated (graphs, line drawings, photos and micrographs) and is well referenced to allow users to follow up on points of interest. It is priced at US$159. The handbook has been edited by Joseph R. Davis of Davis & Associates, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA, who has worked on two previous handbooks for ASM International. ASM International, Men-her Services Center; tel: + l216-338-5151; fm: + l-216. 338-4634.