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in this issue Company visit: Maxon Motor Optimising mould design for PIM 50 years of PIM at Arburg

Published by Inovar Communications Ltd www.pim-international.com Worldwide Global manufacturer of nodular and spherical aluminum powders, pre-alloyed aluminum powders, and aluminum premixes for PM www.ampal-inc.com www.poudres-hermillon.com

In the Americas Supplier of carbonyl iron and atomized stainless steel powders for the MIM and PM industries United States Metal Powders, Incorporated 408 U.S. Highway 202, Flemington, New Jersey 08822 USA Tel: +1 (908) 782 5454 Fax: +1 (908) 782 3489 email: [email protected] Publisher & editorial offices Inovar Communications Ltd 2 The Rural Enterprise Centre Battlefield Enterprise Park Shrewsbury SY1 3FE, Tel: +44 (0)1743 454990 Fax: +44 (0)1743 469909 Email: [email protected] Web: www.pim-international.com

Managing Director and Editor Nick Williams Tel: +44 (0)1743 454991 For the metal, ceramic and carbide injection moulding industries Email: [email protected]

Assistant Editor Sarah Scarratt Tel: +44 (0)1743 454990 Email: [email protected]

Publishing Director A drive towards increased Paul Whittaker Tel: +44 (0)1743 454992 Email: [email protected] process efficiency

Consulting Editors Welcome to the September 2013 issue of PIM International. This 96 Professor Randall M German Associate Dean of Engineering, Professor of page issue, the largest that we have published to date, comes on the Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State back of a busy summer for many of those involved in PIM. University, USA Dr Yoshiyuki Kato In June 2013 the injection moulding machine manufacturer Arburg Kato Professional Engineer Office, Yokohama, organised a conference at its headquarters in Lossburg, , Dr Professor Frank Petzoldt to celebrate 50 years of the company’s involvement in developing Deputy Director, Fraunhofer IFAM, Bremen, Germany technology and equipment for PIM. The event attracted more Bernard Williams than 200 international participants and covered a diverse range of Consultant, Shrewsbury, UK subjects. A common thread amongst a number of presentations Advertising was, however, the efficiency gains that can be made through the use Jon Craxford, Advertising Director of advanced mould technologies. The feature article on optimising Tel: +44 (0) 207 1939 749 mould design and function for PIM (page 39) looks more closely Fax: +44 (0) 1743 469 909 at this critical area of the process. Our report on highlights from E-mail: [email protected] Arburg’s summer PIM conference can be seen on page 57. Subscriptions Powder Injection Moulding International is published We also report on a recent visit to Maxon Motor’s PIM plant in on a quarterly basis. The annual subscription charge Germany, where a focus on high precision products has had a for four issues is £115.00 including shipping. Rates in distinct influence on the company’s unique approach to the process € and US$ are available on application. for both CIM and MIM materials (page 47). Accuracy of contents Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the In North America, MIM was again well represented at the MPIF’s accuracy of the information in this publication, annual PowderMet Conference held in Chicago, June 2013. A the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors substantial number of MIM parts were announced as winners in the or omissions or for any consequences arising MPIF’s Design Excellence Awards and the trade exhibition featured there from. Inovar Communications Ltd cannot be held responsible for views or claims expressed by a very encouraging number of technology suppliers. A d