The resurgence of America’s magnet segment has run into a roadblock: the pressing labor shortages in the U.S. rare earth supply chain during increased efforts to reduce reliance on China. Companies that are continuing to expand face a critical shortage of skilled workers across mining, chemical processing, and magnet manufacturing due to decades of offshoring.

APMI International's most prestigious award recognizes APMI members for their significant contributions to the goals, purpose, and mission of the organization as well as for a high level of expertise in the technology, practice, or business of the industry. The 2026 Fellow Award recipient will receive elevation to Fellow status at WorldPM2026: World Congress on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials. The 2026 recipient is Rodney Brennen, Metco Industries, Inc.

Discover who's making headlines and contributing to advancements in the PM industry.

Stay updated on company news and highlights while discovering how metal powders are reshaping industries worldwide.

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Time: Social Hour: 5:30-6:30 p.m., Dinner: 6:30 p.m.
Price: Member: $40.00 - Non-Member: $50.00, Student/Retiree: $30.00
Place: The Tannery at Dubois Country Club — 10 Lakeside Avenue, DuBois, PA 15801
Meeting Sponsor: Weiss Industrial Instruments
Speaker: Tony Busch
Topic: SCR’s Controlling Silicon Carbide Elements Without Transformers

BONUS: Any APMI member that attends 5 of the 7 West Penn technical sessions during the 2025–2026 season will be entered to win a complimentary full conference registration to attend WorldPM2026 / AMPM2026 / Tungsten2026, June 25–29 in Montreal, Canada!

APMI has a rich history that encompasses over sixty years advancing powder metallurgy. Explore the PM Flashback articles for insights into the industry's developments from 10, 20, and 40 years ago.

The International Journal of Powder Metallurgy covers various materials and processes. Back in the day, the Consultant’s Corner was a popular feature. Revisit them to learn more about materials and processes.

The International Journal of Powder Metallurgy has a rich history that encompasses over sixty years of publishing a wide range of materials and processes including classical "press-and-sinter" powder metallurgy, metal injection molding, metal additive manufacturing, and advanced particulate materials. Our Consultant’s Corners, with industry experts answering reader’s questions, were a popular feature. Revisit them as we share them here in a new feature.

The 2025 Excellence in Metallography Award has been selected, and this year's winning paper is "The Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure of Additively Manufactured Abrasion Resistant Ni-Hard Steel Parts”, by Thomas F. Murphy, FAPMI, Christopher T. Schade, FAPMI, & Kerri M. Horvay, Hoeganaes Corporation. The paper was selected from among the highly qualified manuscripts that were presented at the PowderMet2025 / AMPM2025 conference in Phoenix and critically evaluated for the prestigious award. The paper is available for download on the APMI website. It is also included in Advances in Additive Manufacturing with Powder Metallurgy—2025 and published in the fall issue of the International Journal of Powder Metallurgy. The authors will be officially recognized during WorldPM2026 in Montreal, Canada, June 25–29, 2026.

The Japan Powder Metallurgy Association (JPMA), Tokyo, Japan, announced its 2025 New Design, Process Development, Labor Saving Production, New Powders, and Effort awards.

Recent advances in additive manufacturing of biometals, including iron, magnesium, zinc, and their alloys, at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, New York, have transformed the development of patient-specific implants and bone plates. These materials boast superior mechanical strength and biocompatibility while offering the unique advantage of gradual degradation, eliminating the need for removal surgeries, which are ideal for temporary biomedical applications.

Researchers at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, have developed the first known metallic gel, a groundbreaking material made entirely of metal powders that can withstand extreme temperatures. Unlike typical gels used in everyday products, this innovative gel is created by mixing two metal powders. When heated, one metal melts, forming a liquid that is trapped within a solid scaffold of the other metal, creating a gel-like structure.