Japan’s Iwaki Diecast expands Metal Injection Moulding capacity with new factory

News
May 22, 2017

May 22, 2017

Japan’s Iwaki Diecast expands Metal Injection Moulding capacity with new factory

Iwaki Diecast’s new MIM facility in Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan

 

Japan’s Iwaki Diecast Co., Ltd. has officially opened a new state of the art Metal Injection Moulding facility in Miyagi prefecture, part of the Tohoku district of Northern Japan. The new 5,700 m2 factory is located on a 520,000 m2 site and employs 80 people. It is expected that around two million MIM parts will be shipped every month.

Iwaki Diecast was founded in 1968 by Yoshio Saito, now its Chairman, as an aluminium, zinc and magnesium die-casting manufacturer and in 2018 will celebrate its 50th anniversary. It is today a major supplier of investment castings to Japan’s automotive industry. The company launched its MIM business in 1986 and as early as 1990 it began producing MIM parts in continuous sintering furnaces, an innovative development at a time when batch furnaces dominated the industry.

 

Japan’s Iwaki Diecast expands Metal Injection Moulding capacity with new factory

A continuous MIM sintering furnace at Iwaki Diecast

 

Iwaki Diecast’s plant currently operates three continuous MIM sintering furnaces, however this number is planned to increase as demand for components rises. In addition to serving well-established markets such as automotive, orthodontic and industrial equipment/robotics, the company plans to use its expertise in MIM technology to expand into the medical device market.

The company’s Metal Injection Moulding business was badly affected by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, which caused devastation to the region. Fortunately, no employees were injured and the MIM operation had partly reopened by May 2011. The rapid reopening of the facility was regarded as critical given the importance of its products to major national industries and the revival of the company was seen as a symbol of the revival of the Tohoku area, receiving nationwide media coverage. The MIM division’s new factory is built on land that wasn’t affected by the 2011 tsunami.

 

Japan’s Iwaki Diecast expands Metal Injection Moulding capacity with new factory

Atsushi Kamata, President of Iwaki Diecast Co., Ltd. (right) and Junichi Takahashi, Plant Manager (left)

 

One of the reported characteristics of the Iwaki Diecast’s MIM operation is that it can debind and sinter MIM parts of different steel types and shapes at the same time in its continuous sintering furnace. This technological development has improved operational efficiency and allows the factory to overcome some of the inherent disadvantages of continuous sintering furnaces with regards to multiple materials and component types.

www.iwakidc.co.jp

News
May 22, 2017

In the latest issue of PIM International…

Download PDF

Extensive MIM, CIM industry and sinter-based AM industry news, plus the following exclusive deep-dive articles and reports:

  • INMATEC Technologies: Celebrating 25 years as a driving force behind Ceramic Injection Moulding
  • A year of change: Turbulence in China’s MIM industry as markets evolve
  • Ceramic Injection Moulding: The impact of variotherm and conformal cooling technology on part quality and process capability
  • The Additive Manufacturing of multi-material and multi-functional ceramic components

The latest news from the MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM industries

Don't miss any new issue of PIM International, and stay up to date with the latest industry news. Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter.

Sign up

Join our community

Discover our magazine archive…

The free-to-access PIM International magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

 

Browse the archive

 

Looking for suppliers of materials, production equipment and finished MIM, CIM or sinter-based AM parts?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of PIM International.

  • Metal powders
  • MIM, CIM & AM parts producers
  • Binders & feedstocks
  • Feedstock mixers
  • Furnaces & furnace supplies
  • Atmospheres & gas generation
  • HIP systems & services
  • Injection moulding machines
  • AM technology
  • Debinding systems
View online
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap