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North American PM rebounds from recession
PM tots, claimed Lindskog. In structural p a r t s the emphasis is still on the need to improve dimensional tolerances and tolerances in mechanical properties, as well as perform a n c e level. P r o d u c e r s m u s t also be able to improve reliability a n d r e d u c e s c a t t e r in dimensions. To achieve this the
TECHNOLOGY
raw m a t e r i a l m u s t be m o r e c o n s t a n t and resistant to segregation. H6gan~is has m a n a g e d to significantly reduce t h e scatter in d i m e n s i o n s since 1998 by continuous i m p r o v e m e n t s to its powders. O t h e r i n n o v a t i o n s include Dorst's p r e s s technology which allows control of ratios which
TRENDS avoids crack formation; Miba's c o m p o u n d rotor for an electric clutch, w h i c h w o n an EPMA a w a r d in 1993; a n d A m e s ' assembly of four PM and solid parts."Such d e v e l o p m e n t s lead me to believe t h e r e is light a r o u n d the corner," Lindskog told delegates.
North A m e r i c a n PM rebounds from recession he North American powder metallurgy (PM) industry r e b o u n d e d from the recession of 1991 with a vengeance last year, recording record s h i p m e n t s for iron powders. The strong gains in 1992 were propelled by increasing d e m a n d from the automotive m a r k e t , s a i d Metal P o w d e r Industries Federation (MPIF) executive director Don White, in his speech to delegates at PM~I'EC93 in Nashville, 16-19 May. Many powder, e q u i p m e n t a n d PM p a r t s a n d p r o d u c t makers enjoyed increased busi-
T
ness levels last year, he reported. The year saw a continuation of PM's t r e n d s in developing new materials, processing techniques and breaking a p p l i c a t i o n barriers. The outlook for 1993 is favourable, he believes, and t h e s e t r e n d s should continue. Total 1992 metal p o w d e r s h i p m e n t s in North America r e a c h e d 285 977 tonnes, an increase of 10.7% (Table 1). More significant increases were seen in iron and c o p p e r powder shipments. Iron powder sales e x c e e d e d 223 122 t o n n e s -- a record.
S h i p m e n t s i n c r e a s e d 16.3% over 1991, s p a r k e d by n e w applications of automotive PM p a r t s (Figure 1). It is significant t h a t this record occurred, despite a less t h a n o u t s t a n d i n g year for the North American automotive industry, says White. Copper and copper-base p o w d e r s h i p m e n t s were also up, for t h e first t i m e since 1989, 12% to 18 208 t o n n e s (Figure 2). The PM segment of this total is up 14% to 15 782 tonnes. A c c o r d i n g to s h i p m e n t s analysis by end use statistics
1990
1991
1992
218 200
212 300
246 300
Copper/Copper Base
19 200
17 900
20 000
Aluminum
36 400
34 500
29 700
Iron and Steel
Molybdenum
2 500 (E)
2 300 (E)
2 500 (E)
Tungsten
2 500
2 100
1 450
Tungsten Carbide
5 000
4 900
4 500
10 000
9 800
9 900
1 000
825
950
295 800 tons
284 625 tons
315 300 tons
Nickel Tin (E) estimate
Sources: Metal Powder Industries Federation and U.S. Department of commerce
MPR July\August 1993 13
TECHNOLOGY
raw m a t e r i a l m u s t be m o r e c o n s t a n t and resistant to segregation. H6gan~is has m a n a g e d to significantly reduce t h e scatter in d i m e n s i o n s since 1998 by continuous i m p r o v e m e n t s to its powders. O t h e r i n n o v a t i o n s include Dorst's p r e s s technology which allows control of ratios which
TRENDS avoids crack formation; Miba's c o m p o u n d rotor for an electric clutch, w h i c h w o n an EPMA a w a r d in 1993; a n d A m e s ' assembly of four PM and solid parts."Such d e v e l o p m e n t s lead me to believe t h e r e is light a r o u n d the corner," Lindskog told delegates.
North A m e r i c a n PM rebounds from recession he North American powder metallurgy (PM) industry r e b o u n d e d from the recession of 1991 with a vengeance last year, recording record s h i p m e n t s for iron powders. The strong gains in 1992 were propelled by increasing d e m a n d from the automotive m a r k e t , s a i d Metal P o w d e r Industries Federation (MPIF) executive director Don White, in his speech to delegates at PM~I'EC93 in Nashville, 16-19 May. Many powder, e q u i p m e n t a n d PM p a r t s a n d p r o d u c t makers enjoyed increased busi-
T
ness levels last year, he reported. The year saw a continuation of PM's t r e n d s in developing new materials, processing techniques and breaking a p p l i c a t i o n barriers. The outlook for 1993 is favourable, he believes, and t h e s e t r e n d s should continue. Total 1992 metal p o w d e r s h i p m e n t s in North America r e a c h e d 285 977 tonnes, an increase of 10.7% (Table 1). More significant increases were seen in iron and c o p p e r powder shipments. Iron powder sales e x c e e d e d 223 122 t o n n e s -- a record.
S h i p m e n t s i n c r e a s e d 16.3% over 1991, s p a r k e d by n e w applications of automotive PM p a r t s (Figure 1). It is significant t h a t this record occurred, despite a less t h a n o u t s t a n d i n g year for the North American automotive industry, says White. Copper and copper-base p o w d e r s h i p m e n t s were also up, for t h e first t i m e since 1989, 12% to 18 208 t o n n e s (Figure 2). The PM segment of this total is up 14% to 15 782 tonnes. A c c o r d i n g to s h i p m e n t s analysis by end use statistics
1990
1991
1992
218 200
212 300
246 300
Copper/Copper Base
19 200
17 900
20 000
Aluminum
36 400
34 500
29 700
Iron and Steel
Molybdenum
2 500 (E)
2 300 (E)
2 500 (E)
Tungsten
2 500
2 100
1 450
Tungsten Carbide
5 000
4 900
4 500
10 000
9 800
9 900
1 000
825
950
295 800 tons
284 625 tons
315 300 tons
Nickel Tin (E) estimate
Sources: Metal Powder Industries Federation and U.S. Department of commerce
MPR July\August 1993 13