Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Powder Metallurgy is a long standing business that grew at a rapid rate from
the 1980s. Much of its growth derived from powder-based parts replacing
castings, forgings, and machined parts. The industry demonstrated that it
could meet the needs of manufacturers but at a lower cost. More than 73% of
all PM parts are sold to the automotive industry.
PM has been maturing and actually lost ground in 2001. The industry recovered
in 2002 but not to the levels hoped for. The auto industry was changing
rapidly in the face of globalization, and this change will continue.
PM could potentially become an industry with saturated markets and grow mainly
by acquisition or increasing market share. But PM technology is still
evolving, and the industry now uses particulates (or powders and materials
that are not made entirely of metals). PM can resume growth and expand its
markets, which is a key reason for doing this study.
SCOPE OF STUDY
This report:
- Forecasts the overall powder metallurgy market, which now encompasses new
materials such as ceramics, ceramic fibers, and intermetallics compounds.
- Includes all major market end-use segments: automotive; tools and
recreation; industrial (includes motors, hydraulics); household appliances;
and hardware and other such as machinery.
- Evaluates all relevant segments of the business: companies that make
tooling and process equipment, and perform related services used in the
manufacture of finished components; companies that produce the powders,
lubricants, industrial gases and other raw materials that go into making
finished components; and in-house and contract fabricators.
- Provide in-depth coverage off all key technologies: Forming (hot
compaction, warm compaction, cold compaction), sintering (atmosphere vacuum)
and optional manufacturing and finishing steps (repressing, forging,
machining, heat treating, plating, etc.)
- Includes market shares, R&D update, company profiles, recent industry
developments, powder metallurgy manufacturing and development by region,
consumption by region, and all other major market measures.
INFORMATION SOURCES
We interviewed approximately 125 companies to obtain data for this study
included were powder chemists, process equipment specialists, chemists,
marketing executives, operations personnel, and various users of powder metal
parts. Participants included representatives of the automotive industry,
tooling companies, and medical device manufacturers. Information for this
report also came from government and industry sources, trade publications, and
financial reports.
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