Powder Metallurgy: Technologies and Global Markets

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

This powder metallurgy industry report provides:

• An overview of the global powder metallurgy market
• Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2011, estimates for 2012, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2017
• Reviews of companies that manufacture powder metal and other related materials used in the process, such as ceramics and nanopowders, special alloys, and metal matrix composites; and companies that make parts and components for automotive products, industrial and tolling equipment, recreation and hobby items, appliances, business machines, and other products
• Discussion of manufacturing capability and consumption by regional markets
• Examinations of industry standards, government and industry support, and other key factors related to the success of powder metallurgy
• Identification of market drivers within the industry
• Evaluations of the quantity and value of various powders and parts shipments in the next five years
• Projections of technological issues, trends, and other influential factors
• Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.

This report, an update of an earlier BCC Research report, has the goal of providing the most up-to-date information on the current status of the global powder metallurgy market and to assess its growth potential during the period from 2012 to 2017.  The different types of metal powders and their consumption in different applications are of particular interest.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

Powder metallurgy (PM) has been a steady industry over the past several decades, growing from the 1980s.  Much of its growth derived from metal powder-based parts used to replace castings, forgings and machined parts.  The industry has consistently demonstrated that it could meet the demand of manufacturers at a lower cost than other technologies.

PM technology is still evolving, and the industry has adopted particulates (i.e., powders and materials not made solely of metals).  Products are changing too, and PM can be adapted or modified to meet their demands.  BCC Research last examined this market in September 2010, and thus considers this an appropriate time to analyze recent developments.

SCOPE OF REPORT

This report analyzes the PM industry on a global basis, including manufacturing capability and consumption by regional markets.  It also examines industry standards, government and industry support, and other key factors related to the success of powder metallurgy.

Market drivers within the industry are identified.  The quantity and value of various powders and parts shipments is projected from 2011 to 2012, and then over a five-year period from 2012 to 2017.  Technological issues and trends are projected and other influential factors are discussed.

The report identifies major manufacturers of powder metal and other related materials, such as ceramics and nanopowders, special alloys and metal matrix composites.  It also includes companies that make parts and components for automotive products, industrial and tolling equipment, recreation and hobby items, appliances, business machines and other products.

METHODOLOGY

Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in the preparation of this study.  BCC Research presents an analysis of the volume shipped in 2011 for each major segment of the PM industry.  The estimated value of shipments is based on the price the manufacturers paid in non-depreciated U.S. dollars.

Based on its analysis of PM properties, advantages, demand factors, competition and other information, BCC projects the potential growth in volume of each segment and forecasts price trends for 2012 and 2017 as the basis for estimating the value of shipments for these same time periods

INFORMATION SOURCES

BCC Research interviewed approximately 125 companies to obtain data for this study.  Among the persons interviewed were chemists, process equipment specialists, marketing executives, operations personnel and users of various powder metal parts.  Participants included representatives of the automotive industry, tooling companies and industrial buyers.  Additional data were obtained from government publications, trade associations, industry and financial sources, and an exhaustive review of technical literature.

ANALYST’S CREDENTIALS

The author of the BCC report on which this updated edition is based is Robert H. Moran.  Mr. Moran has worked as a technology market analyst and technology writer for more than 20 years and is the author of numerous BCC Research reports.  He has authored reports covering various deposition technologies, displays, solar energy and solid-state lighting.  He earned a B.S. degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

The analyst responsible for updating the report is Andrew McWilliams, a partner in the Boston–based international technology and marketing consulting firm 43rd Parallel LLC.  Mr. McWilliams is the author or co-author of many other BCC studies, including studies in related fields such as AVM078A New Electronic Materials and Device Technologies: Global Markets; EGY053C Advanced Materials and Devices for Renewable Energy: Global Markets; AVM015F High-Performance Ceramic Coatings: Markets and Technologies; NAN015F Advanced Ceramics and Nanoceramic Powders; AVM028E Global Markets for Friction Products and Materials; and NAN021E Global Markets for Nanocomposites, Nanoparticles, Nanoclays and Nanotubes.

Table of Contents

Chapter- 1: Introduction
Study Goal And Objectives
Reasons For Doing The Study
Scope Of Report
Methodology
Information Sources
Analyst's Credentials
Related Bcc Reports
Bcc Online Services
Disclaimer

Chapter- 2: Summary 2
Table Summary : Global Powder Metallurgy Parts And Powder Shipments, Through 2017
Figure Summary : Global Powder Metallurgy Parts And Powders Shipments, 2011-2017

Chapter- 3: Overview 4
History
Powder Metallurgy Process
Making Metal Powders
Powder Metallurgy Applications

Chapter- 4: Industry Structure 28
Industry Structure
Key Companies In The Powder Metallurgy Industry
Characteristics Of The 2011 Powder Metallurgy Industry
Powder Metallurgy Manufacturing By Region
Consumption Of Powder Metallurgy Products By Region
Market Leaders
Company Profiles

Chapter- 5: Technology 29
Conventional Powder Metallurgy
Fully Dense Processing
High-Density Processing Of Ferrous Metal Parts
Secondary Operations
Metal Powder Production And Processing
Recent Developments
Patent Analysis

Chapter- 6: Competitive Environment 7
Economic Trends
Motor Vehicle Production
Industry And Trade Support
Standards Development

Chapter- 7: Powder Metallurgy Materials And Parts Markets 48
Ferrous Powder Metals And Parts
Aluminum Powders And Parts
Copper Powders And Copper-Based Parts
Nickel-Based Powders And Parts
Markets For Tungsten And Molybdenum Powders And Alloy Pm Parts
Tin Powders And Tin-Base Parts
Particulates And Other Advanced Materials
Global Powder And Parts Growth

List of Tables

Summary Table : Global Powder Metallurgy Parts And Powder Shipments, Through 2017
Table 1 : Overview Of The Powder Metallurgy Process
Table 2 : Basic Powder Manufacturing Processes
Table 3 : End Products That Use Powder Metallurgy Parts
Table 4 : Global Powder Metallurgy Industry Structure, 2011
Table 5 : Key Companies In The Global Powder Metallurgy Industry
Table 6 : Global Share Of Powder Metallurgy Manufacturing By Region, 2011–2017
Table 7 : Powder Metallurgy Consumption By Region, 2011–2017
Table 8 : Powder Metallurgy Process
Table 9 : Parts By Complexity, Thickness And Pressing
Table 10 : Continuous-Sintering Furnaces By Type
Table 11 : Basic Hot Isostatic Pressing Process
Table 12 : Basic Cold Isostatic Pressing Process
Table 13 : Basic Metal Injection Molding Process
Table 14 : Warm Compacting Process
Table 15 : Secondary Operations
Table 16 : Water And Gas Atomization Process Comparisons
Table 17 : Particulate Materials
Table 18 : Benefits Of Added Materials To The Powder Metallurgy Industry
Table 19 : Commonly Used Advanced Ceramic Materials
Table 20 : Commercial Applications For Ceramic Nanopowders
Table 21 : Patents By Area Of Powder Metallurgy Technology, 2008–August 2012
Table 22 : Powder Metallurgy Patents By Region, 2008–August 2012
Table 23 : Companies With Two Or More Patents, 2008-August 2012
Table 24 : Global Motor Vehicle Production, Through 2017
Table 25 : Trade Associations In The Metal Powder Industries Federation
Table 26 : Pennsylvania State University Center For Innovative Sintered Products Collaborative Universities
Table 27 : European Powder Metallurgy Association’s Key Goals
Table 28 : Powder Metallurgy Association Of India’s Major Objectives
Table 29 : Standard U.S. Sieve Sizes
Table 30 : Sample Physical Characteristics Of Commercial Iron-Based Powders
Table 31 : Sample Composition Of Sintered Automotive Steel Structural Component Materials
Table 32 : Representative Automotive Applications For Powder Metallurgy Parts
Table 33 : Advantages Of Powder Metallurgies In Automotive Applications
Table 34 : Global Shipments Of Iron And Steel Powders And Parts, Through 2017
Table 35 : Global Shipment Trends For Motor Vehicles And Iron And Steel Powders, 2007–2011
Table 36 : Major Applications For Stainless-Steel Powders
Table 37 : Global Shipments Of Stainless-Steel Powders And Parts, Through 2017
Table 38 : Advantages Of Aluminum Powder Metallurgy
Table 39 : Metal Matrix Composite Manufacturing Methods
Table 40 : Global Shipments Of Aluminum Powder And Parts, Through 2017
Table 41 : Primary Advantages Of Copper Powder
Table 42 : Global Copper Powder And Parts Shipments, Through 2017
Table 43 : Nickel-Powder Properties
Table 44 : Nickel-Powder Applications By Powder Type
Table 45 : Global Nickel Powder And Part Shipments, Through 2017
Table 46 : Global Tungsten And Molybdenum-Powder And Parts Shipments, Through 2017
Table 47 : Major Tin Powder Applications
Table 48 : Global Tin Powder And Parts Shipments, Through 2017
Table 49 : Alloys With High-Carbon Content
Table 50 : Methods For Making Nanopowders
Table 51 : Particulate And Other Advanced-Material Applications
Table 52 : Global Particulate And Other Advanced Powder And Parts Shipments, Through 2017
Table 53 : Global Powder Metal Shipment Volume And Market Share By Material Type, Through 2017
Table 54 : Global Powder Metallurgy Market By Material Type, Through 2017
Table 55 : Global Powder Metallurgy Parts Shipments, 2011-2017
Table 56 : Global Powder Metallurgy Component Shipments And Share By Market Type, Through 2017

List of Figures

Figure Sample Figure : Global Powder Metallurgy Parts And Powders Shipments, 2011-2017
Summary Figure : Global Powder Metallurgy Parts And Powders Shipments, 2011-2017
Figure 1 : Global Share Of Powder Metallurgy Manufacturing By Region, 2011–2017
Figure 2 : Powder Metallurgy Consumption By Region, 2011–-2017
Figure 3 : Leading Powder Metallurgy Component Manufacturers, 2011
Figure 4 : Leading Powder Metallurgy Powder Manufacturers, 2011
Figure 5 : Annual Growth Rate Of Global Gross Domestic Product, 2010-2017
Figure 6 : Global Iron And Steel Powders And Parts Shipments, 2011–2017
Figure 7 : Global Shipments Of Stainless-Steel Powders And Parts, 2011–2017
Figure 8 : Global Shipments Of Aluminum Powders And Parts, 2011–2017
Figure 9 : Global Copper Powders And Parts Shipments, 2011–2017
Figure 10 : Global Nickel Powder And Part Shipments, 2011–2017
Figure 11 : Global Tungsten And Molybdenum Powder And Parts Shipments, 2011–2017
Figure 12 : Global Shipments Of Tin Powders And Parts, 2011–2017
Figure 13 : Global Particulate And Other Advanced Powder And Parts Shipments, 2011–2017
Figure 14 : Particulates And Special Powders Market Shares, 2011
Figure 15 : Global Shipment Volume Of Powder Materials By Material Type, 2011–2017
Figure 16 : Global Powder Metal Shipments By Material Type, 2011–2017
Figure 17 : Global Powder Metallurgy Shipments By Material Type, 2011–2017
Figure 18 : Global Powder Metallurgy Shipments By Material Type, 2011–2017
Figure 19 : Global Powder Metallurgy Component Shipments By Market Type, 2011–2017
Figure 20 : Global Powder Metallurgy Component Share By Market Type, 2011–2017