Market insight: Metal Injection Molding | Ceramic Injection Molding | sinter-based AM

Tailored feedstocks for MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM: How Blesol Tech is responding to market requirements

Blesol Tech is emerging as a notable European supplier of metal and ceramic feedstocks for Metal Injection Moulding, Ceramic Injection Moulding, and sinter-based Additive Manufacturing. Based in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, and led by Dr Gemma Herranz and Dr Cristina Berges, the company brings together academic expertise and industrial-scale production. As this article outlines, its close collaboration with MIM and CIM producers offers clear insight into shifting market requirements, informing the development of tailored materials and adaptable feedstock solutions. ... Read more »

Ceramic precision meets analogue performance: How Additive Manufacturing enables design freedom in high-end audio

There is a beauty in ceramics that has captivated us for thousands of years. Today, Additive Manufacturing (AM) is giving this material class renewed appeal by enabling the creation of forms previously impossible to produce, while preserving the mechanical, aesthetic and tactile qualities that make ceramics so valued. A new award-winning Hi-Fi turntable cartridge – developed by HiFiction AG and Steinbach AG using Lithoz GmbH’s AM technology – showcases not only design innovation but also how AM eliminates tooling barriers, making advanced technical ceramics more accessible to smaller businesses. ... Read more »

Redefining device design: The role of Metal Injection Molding in consumer electronics hinge mechanisms

The capabilities of Metal Injection Moulding have transformed the design of hinges, unlocking new possibilities in consumer electronics and beyond. By enabling the production of compact, durable, and highly complex components, the technology has allowed engineers to rethink functionality and aesthetics, especially in devices such as foldable smartphones, laptops, and wearables. In this comprehensive review, Dr Chiou Yau Hung (Dr Q) explores how MIM’s unique advantages have influenced hinge innovation, reshaped product design, and opened new frontiers for mechanical systems. ... Read more »

Binder Jetting at a crossroads: Dan Brunermer on scale, strategy and the technology’s future

In this wide-ranging interview, Nick Williams speaks with Dan Brunermer, founder of B-jetting LLC and veteran of the metal Binder Jetting (BJT) industry. Drawing on decades of experience, Brunermer reflects on what past successes reveal about the future of Additive Manufacturing – from the growing demand for custom machines and integrated automation to the economic realities shaping adoption. This is a candid and insightful exploration of where Binder Jetting stands today – and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. ... Read more »

Scaling metal Additive Manufacturing: 3DEO’s unique approach to sinter-based parts production

3DEO has risen to become a significant player in metal Additive Manufacturing, producing over 1.5 million parts since 2018 for customers in the aerospace, medical, and semiconductor industries, among others. Uniquely, the company uses its own Intelligent Layering® technology rather than relying on commercially available AM processes such as Binder Jetting. Bernard North visited the company for PIM International and reports on how it has achieved commercial success in an industry where more widely known processes are struggling to make progress ... Read more »

MIM feedstock trends in Asia: Competition, innovation, and market shifts

The Metal Injection Moulding industry in Asia is experiencing significant shifts in feedstock sourcing and material usage. While BASF’s Catamold remains a key player, competition is growing, reshaping supply chains and production strategies. In this article, Dr Q (Y H Chiou) explores the evolving landscape, examining market and application trends, regional variations, and the increasing role of domestic Chinese feedstock manufacturers. As demand for complex, high-performance MIM parts rises, understanding these changes is essential for industry stakeholders ... Read more »

Sinter-based Additive Manufacturing technologies in focus at ASTM’s ICAM 2024 conference

Sinter-based Additive Manufacturing has gained significant traction within ASTM’s International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing (ICAM), growing from a niche topic to a major area of discussion. Since its introduction as a dedicated track in 2022, interest in sinter-based AM has expanded rapidly, covering technologies such as Binder Jetting (BJT), Material Extrusion (MEX), Vat Photopolymerisation (VPP), Cold Metal Fusion, and emerging hybrid approaches. In this article, Dr Animesh Bose highlights key presentations and insights from ICAM 2024 that are shaping the future of sinter-based AM. ... Read more »

Exploring MIM market dynamics: Highlights from the World PM2024 Congress, Yokohama

The 2024 Powder Metallurgy World Congress in Yokohama, Japan, offered an opportunity for the Metal Injection Moulding industry to come together, share market data, and explore emerging trends. The event addressed key issues such as declining sales in major regions, shifts in material demand, and the broader economic and geopolitical challenges affecting the industry. Attendees also explored strategies for innovation, market diversification, and sustainability to drive future growth. Nick Williams shares key data and insight from this important global industry event. ... Read more »

Azoth: Driving the acceptance of sinter-based Additive Manufacturing in the automotive industry and beyond

Everyone had high expectations of Binder Jetting. Of all the metal Additive Manufacturing processes, it suffered from the most hype. What transpired was the realisation amongst machine vendors that it was harder than expected to ‘get it right’. However, while public success stories are few and far between, progress is being made. Azoth is one company that has successfully embraced Binder Jetting, along with related sinter-based AM processes. With a ‘feet firmly on the ground’ approach, and a base near Detroit, it has found commercial success in the automotive industry and beyond. Bernard North reports on a recent visit. ... Read more »

MPIF Design Excellence Awards: New MIM and sinter-based Additive Manufacturing applications in the spotlight

Metal Injection Moulding is one of the most capable manufacturing processes for small precision components, yet it is also one of the least well known. This article presents 2024’s award-winning MIM parts from the Metal Powder Industries Federation’s PM Design Excellence Awards. In addition, we also highlight the growing number of award-winning parts produced by sinter-based Additive Manufacturing. These examples present an opportunity for product designers and engineers to consider how they might use MIM and AM in their own projects. ... Read more »

In the latest issue of PIM International…

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

  • Element 22: Mastering titanium component production with Metal Injection Moulding and Additive Manufacturing
  • Advancing industrialisation: Binder Jetting at the forefront of a maturing sinter-based AM landscape
  • Tailored feedstocks for MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM: How Blesol Tech is responding to market requirements
  • Cleaner semiconductor etching: Bosch Advanced Ceramics’ two-part AM injector produced with Lithoz technology

Buyer’s Guide: feedstock, powder, production technology and MIM, CIM and 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
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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.

 

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