Richard (Rick) Ricchi, technical specialist, General Motors Corporation (GM), Warren, Michigan, has been selected to receive the Vanguard Award from the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF). The award recognizes powder metallurgy (PM) industry champions from the end-user community whose long-time promotion of the technology has contributed to the expansion of PM applications. Ricchi is only the third person to receive the award since its inception in 2014. The award presentation will take place during the Opening General Session at the PowderMet2023, International Conference on Powder Metallurgy and Particulate Materials, and co-located AMPM2023, Additive Manufacturing with Powder Metallurgy conference, June 18–21, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) has announced
the release of the 2023 PM Industry Roadmap. The update
reviews current and future demands of key markets and
identifies the technical barriers, challenges, opportunities, and
priorities that will drive the powder metallurgy (PM) industry's
continued growth. The current PM industry is driven by
applications in the automotive market. Growth opportunities for
PM technology over the next 10 years include energy,
aerospace, medical/dental, electrical and magnetic, defense,
and industrial and consumer products.
Key technology developments and example applications are
identified for each of the four main categories of PM processes:
press & sinter; metal injection molding (MIM); metal additive
manufacturing (AM); and isostatic pressing. This update also reviews the achievements
made by the PM industry from 2017-2022 and features interactive links to award-winning PM
components.

The original 2001 PM² Industry Vision and Technology Roadmap, and subsequent updates
in 2012 and 2017, are still valid and relevant. They should continue to serve as a reference
for the PM industry’s long-term vision to be the preferred source of net-shaped metal-based
components. However, this 2023 update is expected to help guide the development of the
PM industry over the next several years.
To download your copy visit: PM Industry Roadmap

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Editor's Note: For further information contact Bill Edwards

About the Metal Powder Industries Federation
Metal Powder Industries Federation is the North American trade association formed by the powder metallurgy
industry to advance the interests of the metal powder producing and consuming industries and provides a
single point of reference for all MPIF member companies.

The programs for the premier powder metallurgy (PM) conferences of the Americas are now available! PowderMet2023: International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials and co-located AMPM2023: Additive Manufacturing with Powder Metallurgy Conference will feature over 200 technical presentations from worldwide industry experts presenting on PM, metal injection molding (MIM), and metal additive manufacturing (AM) at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 18–21, 2023.

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 2023 Fellow Award recipient will receive elevation to Fellow status at PowderMet2023, during the Opening General Session on Monday, June 19, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2023 recipient is Christopher T. Schade, Vice President of Advanced Materials, Hoeganaes Corporation.

The Metal Powder Industries Federation's (MPIF) Awards Committee has announced the recipients of
the 2023 MPIF Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy (PM) Award that recognizes individuals who
have actively served the North American PM industry for at least 25 years and, in the minds of their
peers, deserve special recognition.

Alex T. Gasbarre, CEO, Gasbarre Products, Inc., DuBois, Pennsylvania, has been elected President of the Powder Metallurgy Equipment Association (PMEA). PMEA is one of six trade associations under the Metal Powder Industries Federation, a "not-for-profit association" formed by the powder metallurgy industry to advance the interests of the metal powder producing and consuming industries.

The Tungsten Industry Conflict Minerals Council announced the release of an updated version of its Tungsten Framework document. The Tungsten Industry—Conflict Minerals Council (TI-CMC or “the Council”) is a framework through which its members can provide industry stakeholders, downstream tungsten consumers with conflict mineral reporting and disclosure obligations, and the public at large with their assurances that the tungsten products they supply are sourced in accordance with the relevant OECD Guidance, appropriate US laws such as Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Regulation (EU) 2017/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council from May 17, 2017, and that the risks highlighted in this guidance are assessed and mitigated as appropriate. 

The North American powder metallurgy (PM) industry has not been immune from the unprecedented challenges facing the global supply‐chain. We continue to feel the negative effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic. I don’t think anyone could have imagined this virus would take a million American lives. The semiconductor microchip processor shortages, resulting in orders being pushed out or even worse, cancelled. Most automotive companies, whose vehicles use an estimated 20‐100 processors each, depending on the vehicle’s features, agree that recovery will begin in the second half of 2022, but a normal supply won’t be met until well into 2023. Volkswagen doesn’t expect demands to be met until 2024.  

The winners in the 2022 Powder Metallurgy (PM) Design Excellence Awards competition, sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF), showcase outstanding examples of PM’s unique ability to challenge competing technologies. From lightweighting to complex geometries, provides component designers with the ability to utilize advanced engineering methods that add up to part-to-part uniformity for improved product quality; shape and material flexibility; application versatility, and more.

An official call for presentations has been announced for MIM2023, International Conference on Injection Molding of Metals, Ceramics and Carbides, to be held in California at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa Hotel, February 27–March 1, 2023. Authors have until September 30, 2022, to submit presentation abstracts on manufacturing innovations and material advancements. All abstracts accepted for presentation will require a PowerPoint submission prior to the conference.

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. Dean Howard, PMT, North American Höganäs Co., the 2022 Fellow Award recipient, will receive elevation to Fellow status at PowderMet2022 / AMPM2022, June 12-15, in Portland, OR.

The 2022 Edition of Standard Test Methods for Metal Powders and Powder Metallurgy Products is now available for purchase! The most current versions of these standards, which are used in the manufacture of both metal powder and powder metallurgy products, are required by Quality Assurance programs in order to maintain full compliance.  

Undeniably, thanks to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the North American Powder Metallurgy (PM) industry endured one of the worst periods of declining production and sales (metal powders, equipment, and parts) in its history.  During the pandemic, manufacturing in North America was disrupted, hitting the PM industry especially hard, as the automotive industry, the primary consumer of PM parts, came to a standstill. Shelter-in-place mandates resulted in more people cooking at home and provided time to renovate kitchens, garages, and laundry rooms.  This was great for PM suppliers to small and large appliance manufacturers, until inventories of finished goods were exhausted, as assembly lines were shut-down due to the mandates.

The winners in the 2021 Powder Metallurgy (PM) Design Excellence Awards competition, sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF), demonstrate outstanding examples of PM’s diversity. From electric vehicles to golf putters, these components use PM’s flexibility to push forward new concepts and process controls to demonstrate the inexhaustible well of capabilities PM can marshal in the service of component design. Designers continue to choose PM for complex and critical applications such as automotive, medical devices, consumer products, hardware, and more.