Shopping Basket
PDF's from PIM International
Metal Injection Moulding in Italy: A review of early development and current activity
Feature article: PIM International, Vol.4 No.3 September 2010, pages 31-33, 978 words
Italy is one of the Europe’s most populous nations and its economy is the 10th largest in the world by GDP. It is also one of Europe’s most important producers of powder metallurgy structural components and bearings, with Assinter, Italy’s PM trade association, reporting sales of 24,400 mt in 2009, a drop from 30,667 mt in 2008 due to the general decline of the European economy.
The majority of Italy’s PM part production relates to ferrous PM parts, with non-ferrous PM parts accounting for less than 10% of production. The country is also a producer of ferrous and non-ferrous powders for PM. Italy’s PM parts find applications in a number of well established markets, with the automotive industry accounting for 59% of production, instrumentation and mechanical devices 19.9%, power tools and DIY 13.5% and domestic appliances 7.6%.
With such a healthy market for press and sintered PM products, it is somewhat surprising that Italy’s MIM industry remains relatively modest, with just six commercial producers still looking to expand on a limited customer base. Two additional companies, Leone SpA and SIA Orthodontic, have their own in-house facilities for the production of MIM orthodontic components. Table 1 details Italian MIM producers known to PIM International at the time of publication of this report........
See also:
Further sections of this article include:
- History & early adopters
- The market for MIM parts in Italy
- Equipment supply
- R&D at Italian universities
- The need for technology promotion
Figures and Tables:
Fig. 1 A view of the injection moulding area at Leone Spa
Fig. 2 Debinding and sintering facilities at Leone Spa
Fig. 3 Examples of MIM orthodontic products manufactured by Leone Spa
Fig. 4 Vacuum sintering furnaces produced by TAV at Mimest’s plant near Trento
Fig. 5 Selection of MIM parts produced by Mimest for a novel corkscrew
Table 1 MIM producers and equipment manufacturers in Italy known to PIM International at the time of publication of this report
