Powder injection molding (PIM) is a newer manufacturing technology that has undergone considerable maturation and growth over the past five years. The technology traces its origins to the production of spark plug bodies in the late 1920s and has been under constant investigation ever since. Current commercial activities started after the second world war, and became credible in the late 1970s. Many profitable operations were formed in the 1980s. Currently, the technology is used to fabricate metallic, ceramic, and cemented carbide components. The field is aligned with the evolution of advanced materials, formed to net shapes, as used in many consumer products. Overall industry growth is strong and expanding rapidly, with currently about one new entry in the business every few weeks.
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