The growing internationalization of powder metallurgy

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The growing internationalization of powder metallurgy

White, D.G.

1987 turned out to be a good year for most sectors of the North American P/M industry including the metal powder suppliers, the equipment makers and parts fabricators. Total North American iron powder shipments were up 6.6 % over 1986 to 217,597 tons - a record amount. Iron powder shipments going into structural parts and friction materials were up 5.9 % to 184,697 tons - also a record. Copper powder shipments in 1987 were up 9.9 % from the previous year to 19,300 tons. Domestic equipment suppliers particularly those who made compacting presses and furnaces enjoyed a good 1987. North American iron powder shipments for the first quarter of 1988 were up 7.3 % over the same period in 1987 and bodes well for a good business climate for the first six months of this year. For the first six months of 1988, P/M parts fabricators are doing well. And for the first time in several years, we can say that the tungsten industry is rebounding from depression-like conditions. Ammonium paratungstate consumption could be up as much as 10 to 15 percent this year.