State-of-the-North American P/M Industry - 2000

摘要

The powder metal and particulate materials industries entered the new millennium with continued optimism. The industry's record growth run remained unbroken in 1999 - our 8th consecutive year of positive growth. P/M benefited from the booming national economy and record sales of 16.9 million light vehicles in 1999. In addition, P/M's growth can be contributed to other forces like - more awareness in the marketplace among design engineers, improved raw materials and processing techniques and improved mechanical properties of P/M parts. These positive factors have opened up new opportunities in higher strength applications. Although the auto market remains the industry's top end user, other fields show promise. Electronic packaging, cell phones, surgical instruments, wrist watches, civilian and military ammunition, sporting goods, power tools and hardware are also increasing their usage of P/M. The P/M industry in North America has grown to a substantial force of more than 260 public and private companies identified as producers of P/M parts and products-traditional parts, MIM and products made from advanced particulate materials. These companies represent an estimated 40,000 employees.