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CIM market to grow to US$2.9 billion in 2018
MIM/CIM market to grow to US$2.9 billion in 2018 According to a new report from BCC Research, the global metal and ceramic injection moulding (MIM/ CIM) components market was valued at US$1.5 billion in 2012 and will grow to US$2.9 billion by 2018, at a rate of 11.4%. The global market for MIM and CIM has exhibited spectacular growth over the last two decades, and the trend is expected to continue, the report suggests, with larger companies weathering the economic storm, growing stronger and larger in the meantime. Key to this staying power has been diversification across other applications such as medical and dental, aerospace, electronics and communications, and luxury products. Additionally, the market has branched into several new applications, firearms being the most prominent. Emerging markets Growth in the cell phone and other handheld products
and electronics industries have been a boon to the MIM industry for the last decade, and this has also resulted in the industry shifting its base slowly to emerging markets and Asia, where most of the electronics manufacturing takes place. This shift is also helping to open new markets for the technology, as the original technologies were developed in the US and were focused in the dental and automotive markets. Another significant change in the industry is the size of the largest players starting to cross the US$50 million mark. The first two MIM manufacturers to break this barrier are the ARC Group, due to its 2012 acquisition, and Indo-US MIM. BCC Research says that there could be five to ten players crossing the US$50 million mark by 2018, with several crossing the US$100 million threshold as well. On the supply side also, several players are expected to be enjoying US$50 million in sales from MIM industry in the next few years.
Hardide Coatings secures agreement with GE Hardide Coatings, a developer of nanotechnology tungsten carbide-based coatings, has entered into a strategic supply agreement with GE to supply coating for a component currently used by GE. The US$1.3 million deal covers the two years to February 2016 with the possibility of extending the agreement to five years. The companies plan to add additional components to the agreement if successful. “This is an exciting devel-
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opment that firmly embeds the Hardide coating technology in one of the world’s most respected advanced engineering companies,” said Philip Kirkham, CEO of Hardide plc. “An excellent working relationship has built up with GE over the last 18 months and we continue to work closely together on other projects, including opportunities for the Hardide technology in various other divisions of GE which we hope to capitalise on.”
Alpha Sintered Metals bought by a new investor Private equity firm Cyprium Partners has sold Alpha Sintered Metals Inc (ASM) to its management and to O2 Investment Partners, LLC, another private equity firm. ASM makes PM components for the automotive, small engine, recreational vehicle, lawn and garden, commercial vehicle and agricultural equipment industries. Cyprium has invested additional capital in ASM to allow the company to establish offshore manufacturing operations and help it acquire a competitor in the stainless
steel exhaust and turbocharger components market. “ASM has been a prime example of the type of initiatives we pursue with our portfolio companies,” said Leland Lewis, a managing partner at Cyprium. “We team with management to assist with organic growth, acquisitions and operational improvements in order to position our companies to withstand a changing marketplace and to take advantage of growth opportunities. We wish the ASM team much success as they start the next chapter in the company’s history.”
ASM makes PM components for lawn and garden and agricultural equipment industries.
Plansee tungsten is confirmed non-conflict Global Tungsten & Powders (GTP), a division of the Plansee Group, has been proved not to process any tungsten sourced from a conflict region, following a December audit. GTP is the Plansee Group’s main tungsten supplier. It is reportedly the world’s first tungsten producer to receive this certificate. The audit was carried out by the committee of the
Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) as part of theConflictFree Smelter Program (CFS), a joint undertaking promoted by the EICC and GeSI. “For Plansee’s customers, the certificate provides independent proof that the Plansee Group procures its tungsten from reliable and responsible sources,” said the company.
metal-powder.net
and electronics industries have been a boon to the MIM industry for the last decade, and this has also resulted in the industry shifting its base slowly to emerging markets and Asia, where most of the electronics manufacturing takes place. This shift is also helping to open new markets for the technology, as the original technologies were developed in the US and were focused in the dental and automotive markets. Another significant change in the industry is the size of the largest players starting to cross the US$50 million mark. The first two MIM manufacturers to break this barrier are the ARC Group, due to its 2012 acquisition, and Indo-US MIM. BCC Research says that there could be five to ten players crossing the US$50 million mark by 2018, with several crossing the US$100 million threshold as well. On the supply side also, several players are expected to be enjoying US$50 million in sales from MIM industry in the next few years.
Hardide Coatings secures agreement with GE Hardide Coatings, a developer of nanotechnology tungsten carbide-based coatings, has entered into a strategic supply agreement with GE to supply coating for a component currently used by GE. The US$1.3 million deal covers the two years to February 2016 with the possibility of extending the agreement to five years. The companies plan to add additional components to the agreement if successful. “This is an exciting devel-
8
MPR March/April 2014
opment that firmly embeds the Hardide coating technology in one of the world’s most respected advanced engineering companies,” said Philip Kirkham, CEO of Hardide plc. “An excellent working relationship has built up with GE over the last 18 months and we continue to work closely together on other projects, including opportunities for the Hardide technology in various other divisions of GE which we hope to capitalise on.”
Alpha Sintered Metals bought by a new investor Private equity firm Cyprium Partners has sold Alpha Sintered Metals Inc (ASM) to its management and to O2 Investment Partners, LLC, another private equity firm. ASM makes PM components for the automotive, small engine, recreational vehicle, lawn and garden, commercial vehicle and agricultural equipment industries. Cyprium has invested additional capital in ASM to allow the company to establish offshore manufacturing operations and help it acquire a competitor in the stainless
steel exhaust and turbocharger components market. “ASM has been a prime example of the type of initiatives we pursue with our portfolio companies,” said Leland Lewis, a managing partner at Cyprium. “We team with management to assist with organic growth, acquisitions and operational improvements in order to position our companies to withstand a changing marketplace and to take advantage of growth opportunities. We wish the ASM team much success as they start the next chapter in the company’s history.”
ASM makes PM components for lawn and garden and agricultural equipment industries.
Plansee tungsten is confirmed non-conflict Global Tungsten & Powders (GTP), a division of the Plansee Group, has been proved not to process any tungsten sourced from a conflict region, following a December audit. GTP is the Plansee Group’s main tungsten supplier. It is reportedly the world’s first tungsten producer to receive this certificate. The audit was carried out by the committee of the
Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) as part of theConflictFree Smelter Program (CFS), a joint undertaking promoted by the EICC and GeSI. “For Plansee’s customers, the certificate provides independent proof that the Plansee Group procures its tungsten from reliable and responsible sources,” said the company.
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