The Japan Powder Metallurgy Association’s (JPMA) annual statistics report on Metal Injection Moulding provides unique insight into the ongoing evolution of the country’s MIM industry. As well as revealing a continued upsurge in production in 2022, changes in the applications and materials mix offer visibility into growth areas for the industry. We present the published data along with insight from the JPMA into wider factors that influenced the broader Japanese PM industry in 2022.
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From the creation of increasingly elaborate high-strength components with complex geometries to decorative elements, Metal Injection Molding has become the go-to manufacturing process for the eyewear industry. Italy’s Visottica Group is a leading supplier to this sector and, in recent years, has expanded its capabilities through acquisitions, resulting in the optimisation of the entire production chain. Luca van der Heide reports for PIM International.
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Over the last decade, the Metal Injection Molding industry enjoyed dramatic growth on the back of the rise of applications in smartphones. There are indications, however, that the tide is turning and the industry can no longer rely on the types of components that it once produced by MIM in the tens of millions a month. Here, Dr Chiou (Dr Q) reflects on the rise of MIM in the consumer electronics industry and explains what Chinese producers are doing to grow their businesses in Metal Injection Molding’s post-smartphone era.
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Steinbach AG is considered a pioneer in the use of Additive Manufacturing for the serial production of high-performance technical ceramics. This case study describes its pioneering path to successfully implement the manufacturing of a new type of ceramic tube, with highly complex geometries, to be used in Da Vinci Surgical Systems robotic solutions for endoscopic surgery. With this application, Steinbach has achieved an annual production rate of 12,000 units and, in so doing, established itself as a leading service provider in ceramic AM.
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As exploration of the potential of metal Binder Jetting (BJT) picks up pace, so does the diversity of materials processed using the technology. At the 2022 World PM Congress, organised by the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) and held in Lyon, October 9-13, a number of presentations reported on developments that looked at a range of materials with commercial potential for BJT, including aluminium alloys, nickel-free stainless steel, hardmetals (cemented carbides) and metallic glass. Dr David Whittaker reports for PIM International.
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How has the global Metal Injection Molding industry weathered the most turbulent years in recent history, and what has the impact been on MIM’s key markets worldwide? In this overview, PIM International’s Nick Williams reports on market data presented at World PM2022, the first Powder Metallurgy World Congress since the COVID pandemic, held in Lyon, France from October 9-13. This is supplemented by other available data sources and insight from conversations with industry leaders at the event.
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HP’s Metal Jet has undergone significant refinement in the years since it was first unveiled in 2018. Now, by incorporating nearly the whole Binder Jetting workflow in one solution, HP hopes that the Metal Jet S100 – commercially launched at IMTS 2022 and showcased at Formnext 2022 – will tempt the wider manufacturing community into the world of AM. As Binder Jetting’s evolution moves from the intricacies of process optimisation to real application development and growth, Emily-Jo Hopson-VandenBos reports on a recent visit to HP’s Barcelona 3D Printing campus and the company’s progress and growing momentum since 2018.
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Founded as a press and sinter PM parts maker, Denmark’s Sintex has proactivity in its DNA. Having establishing itself in this field, the company initially expanded into Metal Injection Molding in order to meet customer demand for more complex geometries. In recent years, to be able to meet the need for mass customisation, it has explored metal Binder Jetting. In addition, custom alloys have been optimised for applications that require excellent corrosion resistance. Peter Kjeldsteen, Peter Valler and Poul Søgaard offer insight into the history and future of innovation within the company.
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Tritone’s MoldJet is unique as an Additive Manufacturing process – not Binder Jetting, Material Extrusion, nor Material Jetting, the MoldJet process involves a number of steps that share features with common sinter-based AM technologies, but don’t quite fall under their definitions. But this isn’t simply a novel fringe technology: Tritone’s founders have drawn on extensive experience within Israel’s 2D and 3D printing ecosystem to build a robust AM platform that is very simple, yet highly sophisticated. Joseph Kowen visited Tritone and here reports on the MoldJet process and its potential applications.
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Since the very first PM Titanium conference in Brisbane, Australia, in 2011, the PMTi series has been the essential meeting point where technical and commercial advances in the powder-based production of titanium parts are discussed. Encompassing production technologies from Metal Injection Molding to Additive Manufacturing, this year’s event was no different. As Dr Thomas Ebel reports, the technologies involved have moved significantly towards production readiness, but with the ever-present playoff of non-negotiable performance goals against the drive to reduce cost.
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