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Powder sales up, but slowly
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Powder sales up, but slowly US auto sales during October climbed again to an annualised manufacturing rate of 10.4 million vehicles from September’s 9.2 million. The September figure was held down, paradoxically, by the success of the Cash for Clunkers scrappage programme which ran briefly during the summer and drove inventory off dealer forecourts. General Motors increased sales for the first time in 21 months and Ford reported third quarter net income of nearly $1 billion. Credit ratings agency Moody’s said the worst of the automotive industry crisis is over and that it expected world sales to stabilise next year, but that European manufacturers would have to solve their overcapacity problem and take steps to improve operating profitability if they were to retain favourable
investment ratings. However, although powder metal sales are increasing from the low levels of the first half year, they still lag some way behind the position in 2008. In the US iron powder sales were at around 66% of 2008 levels for the first three quarters; Japanese figures reflect a level of 75% and Europe about 60%. The figures for copper powders reflect very similar percentage levels with the US at 60%, Japan at 74% and Europe at 61%. • Rio Tinto Metal Powders (RTMP) has reported “an unanticipated increase in orders” Over the last few months. To some extent, they say, this is due to the “Cash for Clunkers” programmes in both North America and Europe, as well as a stronger demand for particular
models in all geographic areas. This has made sales forecasting and advance production planning a more complex activity. Regardless of the difficulties brought on by the global recession, RTMP has continued to be active this year in a number of different areas to improve customer service. New warehouses have been opened in North America and Europe to minimise costs and improve service. In the US, the Cottonwood warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee was closed and a new warehouse opened in St-Louis, Missouri. In Europe, the Rotterdam warehouse was closed and Antwerp was one of several new European units opened with the objective of improving efficiency.
Höganäs’ PoP Centre aims to lift powder metal development This month sees the opening of an innovative new centre in Höganäs, Sweden, aimed at promoting the advantages of metal powder technology and provide support for new application development projects. The Power of Powder (PoP) Centre will be opened on 15 October by the world’s biggest powder metal producer, Höganäs AB. “The new equipment and facilities at the centre will help us to better focus on meeting customer needs and to better understand end-user application performance requirements,” said Eckart Schneider, marketing manager, PM Components. “We will be able to simulate ‘real life’ customer process conditions to increase our overall
knowledge of how powder material concepts, process conditions and component design can be successfully combined.” A feature of the PoP Centre is a rapid prototyping facility that can produce ready-to-test components, cutting lead times and cost in the vital initial stages of an assessment. The Centre is equipped with a multi-level Dorst 800-ton CNC compaction press, and advanced Mazak lathe for machining tests. Final element analysis and computer aided design (FEA/CAD) capabilities and a Haas five-axis CNC machining centre can be hooked up to provide computer aided manufacturing (CAM) style rapid prototyping.
Combined with the company’s existing press/sintering capabilities and material and component testing facilities, and linking to leading PM equipment and tool manufacturers, the centre will aim to offer a comprehensive component and process development service. Eckart Schneider: “It may surprise some people that we are offering such a range of services, but I would stress that we are not aiming to capture business in these areas. If we are to support customers more effectively we have to adopt a holistic approach. It means understanding more about design, compaction, sintering and machining.” www.hoganas.com
S EW E N TUR A
FE
4
MPR November/December 2009
0026-0657/09 ©2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Powder sales up, but slowly US auto sales during October climbed again to an annualised manufacturing rate of 10.4 million vehicles from September’s 9.2 million. The September figure was held down, paradoxically, by the success of the Cash for Clunkers scrappage programme which ran briefly during the summer and drove inventory off dealer forecourts. General Motors increased sales for the first time in 21 months and Ford reported third quarter net income of nearly $1 billion. Credit ratings agency Moody’s said the worst of the automotive industry crisis is over and that it expected world sales to stabilise next year, but that European manufacturers would have to solve their overcapacity problem and take steps to improve operating profitability if they were to retain favourable
investment ratings. However, although powder metal sales are increasing from the low levels of the first half year, they still lag some way behind the position in 2008. In the US iron powder sales were at around 66% of 2008 levels for the first three quarters; Japanese figures reflect a level of 75% and Europe about 60%. The figures for copper powders reflect very similar percentage levels with the US at 60%, Japan at 74% and Europe at 61%. • Rio Tinto Metal Powders (RTMP) has reported “an unanticipated increase in orders” Over the last few months. To some extent, they say, this is due to the “Cash for Clunkers” programmes in both North America and Europe, as well as a stronger demand for particular
models in all geographic areas. This has made sales forecasting and advance production planning a more complex activity. Regardless of the difficulties brought on by the global recession, RTMP has continued to be active this year in a number of different areas to improve customer service. New warehouses have been opened in North America and Europe to minimise costs and improve service. In the US, the Cottonwood warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee was closed and a new warehouse opened in St-Louis, Missouri. In Europe, the Rotterdam warehouse was closed and Antwerp was one of several new European units opened with the objective of improving efficiency.
Höganäs’ PoP Centre aims to lift powder metal development This month sees the opening of an innovative new centre in Höganäs, Sweden, aimed at promoting the advantages of metal powder technology and provide support for new application development projects. The Power of Powder (PoP) Centre will be opened on 15 October by the world’s biggest powder metal producer, Höganäs AB. “The new equipment and facilities at the centre will help us to better focus on meeting customer needs and to better understand end-user application performance requirements,” said Eckart Schneider, marketing manager, PM Components. “We will be able to simulate ‘real life’ customer process conditions to increase our overall
knowledge of how powder material concepts, process conditions and component design can be successfully combined.” A feature of the PoP Centre is a rapid prototyping facility that can produce ready-to-test components, cutting lead times and cost in the vital initial stages of an assessment. The Centre is equipped with a multi-level Dorst 800-ton CNC compaction press, and advanced Mazak lathe for machining tests. Final element analysis and computer aided design (FEA/CAD) capabilities and a Haas five-axis CNC machining centre can be hooked up to provide computer aided manufacturing (CAM) style rapid prototyping.
Combined with the company’s existing press/sintering capabilities and material and component testing facilities, and linking to leading PM equipment and tool manufacturers, the centre will aim to offer a comprehensive component and process development service. Eckart Schneider: “It may surprise some people that we are offering such a range of services, but I would stress that we are not aiming to capture business in these areas. If we are to support customers more effectively we have to adopt a holistic approach. It means understanding more about design, compaction, sintering and machining.” www.hoganas.com
S EW E N TUR A
FE
4
MPR November/December 2009
0026-0657/09 ©2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.