Japanese MIM production data shows further decline in sales
August 5, 2015
Fig. 1 Sales of MIM Products in Japan (FY2008-2014: results, FY2015-2016: estimate) (Courtesy JPMA)
The Japan Powder Metallurgy Association (JPMA) recently published a market report which showed that sales of Metal Injection Moulded products declined for the fifth successive year in 2014 (Fig. 1). Sales of Yen 10.566 billion ($84.3 million) were recorded in 2014, an 11.6% fall on sales for 2010, and a 34% drop on sales of Yen 13.981 billion achieved in 2008.
Fig. 2 Distribution ratio of MIM markets in Japan (FY2014) (Courtesy JPMA)
The JPMA figures were based on the returns of 21 companies in Japan active in Metal Injection Moulding production. The JPMA is forecasting a small recovery in MIM sales in 2015 and 2016. MIM producers believe that more efforts are needed to promote the benefits of the technology particularly in terms of quality and dimensional accuracy of complex MIM components.
Fig. 3 Distribution ratio of MIM materials in Japan (FY2014) (Courtesy JPMA)
The JPMA reports that the main application sectors for MIM parts in Japan remain industrial machinery at 23.6% (20.5% in 2013), followed by medical instruments at 18.3%, and automotive at 17.3% – down from 19.3% in 2013. Fig. 2 gives a breakdown of all the application sectors for MIM and Fig. 3 gives a breakdown of the materials used in MIM production. Stainless steels remain by far the largest group at 62.2% followed by Fe-Ni base alloy, and magnetic materials at 8.7%.
