Metal Injection Molding, Ceramic Injection Molding and sinter-based Additive Manufacturing

Metal Injection Molding articles: deep-dive MIM industry insight

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

ArticleApplicationsMarketsMaterialsMetal Injection Molding
February 26, 2025

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 »

Engineering innovation: Zimmer Group’s success in automation and Metal Injection Molding

ArticleCompany ProfilesMetal Injection Molding
December 15, 2024

From pioneering early industrial gripper systems to mastering Metal Injection Moulding, Germany’s Zimmer Group is today a leader in advanced automation and manufacturing technologies. With operations in 125 countries and a workforce of 1,300, the company produces MIM parts for both internal applications and a growing portfolio of external clients. Dr Georg Schlieper recently visited Dr Natalie Salk to learn about the company’s MIM journey, here he reports on how it has leveraged its expertise in automation to enhance efficiency across its MIM operation ... Read more »

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

ArticleMarketsMetal Injection Molding
December 14, 2024

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 »

Reverse Engineering legacy components using filament-based metal Additive Manufacturing

ArticleMaterialsMetal Injection MoldingProcessing
December 12, 2024

Filament-based Material Extrusion (MEX), also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), combines cost efficiency with versatility, enabling the rapid prototyping of complex geometries. When used with Reverse Engineering and digital scanning technologies, could the technology play a role in the supply of discontinued legacy metal parts? Here, Sihan Zhang, Saleh Khanjar, Srimanta Barui, Kameswara Pavan Kumar Ajjarapu, and Kunal Kate from the University of Louisville; Lauren Shackleford of the University of Kentucky; and Andrew Pierce, GE Appliances, report on the process undertaken to produce a discontinued stainless steel helical gear. ... Read more »

Elnik: Relocation and expansion as a leading MIM furnace maker prepares for the rise of sinter-based AM

ArticleApplicationsCompany ProfilesMetal Injection MoldingSinter-based Additive Manufacturing
September 25, 2024

Vacuum debinding and sintering furnaces from Elnik Systems LLC are a common sight in Metal Injection Moulding plants throughout Europe and the Americas. Thanks in part to the technical guidance and training available through its sister company, DSH Technologies, Elnik Systems’ market-leading position has seen it support a multitude of new manufacturing operations. Now, with the rise of sinter-based Additive Manufacturing, the need to meet the high demand for the company’s products has driven a relocation and major expansion. Nick Williams reports for PIM International. ... Read more »

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

ArticleApplicationsMarketsMetal Injection MoldingSinter-based Additive Manufacturing
September 25, 2024

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 »

Industrialising innovation: Discovering the future of MIM at Schunk Sintermetalltechnik GmbH

ArticleCompany ProfilesMarketsMetal Injection Molding
June 11, 2024

In Metal Injection Moulding, as in all manufacturing industries, business can either be won by competing to be the lowest-cost supplier amongst fierce global competition, or by offering the most innovative technologies for the most demanding applications. Here, Dr Georg Schlieper reports from a recent visit to Germany’s Schunk Sintermetalltechnik GmbH, a company that has taken the latter path, setting itself the goal of being a leading supplier to the aerospace industry and, at the same time, offering its customers unique solutions for the next generation of MIM applications. ... Read more »

A tooling expert’s ‘primer’ on Metal Injection Molding: What technology newcomers need to know

ArticleApplicationsMetal Injection MoldingProcessing
June 11, 2024

Metal Injection Moulding often has an aura of mystery around it. Whilst those in the industry understand the technology well, there are many ‘on the outside’ who are more apprehensive. In this article, Declan Coyle takes some of the mystery out of MIM technology in relation to tooling. Having gone through his own ‘MIM initiation’ process when tasked with developing the tooling for Apple’s Lightning connector in 2011, Coyle is well-positioned to offer some practical ‘do and don’t’ suggestions from a tooling engineer’s perspective. ... Read more »

Industry insight from the 2024 International Conference on Injection Molding Metals, Ceramics and Carbides

ArticleCeramic Injection MoldingMaterialsMetal Injection MoldingProcessingSinter-based Additive Manufacturing
June 11, 2024

MIM2024, the International Conference on Injection Molding of Metals, Ceramics, and Carbides, was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, from February 26 to 28, 2024. Attended by more than a hundred delegates from ten countries, this latest event in the well-established series was deemed to be an innovative success. This year was – to the relief of both attendees and the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) – an in-person only event. Dr Animesh Bose, CEO, Optimus Alloys, reviews some of the highlights from the technical programme. ... Read more »

A year of change: Turbulence in China’s MIM industry as markets evolve

ArticleApplicationsMarketsMetal Injection Molding
March 11, 2024

As we start 2024, Greater China’s Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) industry is recovering from a perfect storm of challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t only impact operations at MIM plants, but key markets were adversely affected, reducing production volumes. Furthermore, after more than a decade, Apple – China’s biggest MIM parts consumer – replaced its Lightning connector, a component which required the production of billions of MIM parts. Dr Q (Y H Chiou) reports for PIM International on the changes that are now underway in this, the world’s largest MIM producing region. ... 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:

  • Metal Injection Moulding in Asia: Scale, supply chains, and growing overlap with metal Additive Manufacturing
  • Chanel’s J12: How Ceramic Injection Moulding became part of the luxury narrative
  • Ceramic AM enables 500 mm dual-channel gas distribution ring for high-speed PEALD and ALE in the same chamber
  • From hypersonics to EVs: Sintering non-oxide ceramics for next-generation technologies
  • ColdMetalFusion: A new approach to metal Additive Manufacturing

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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