Metal and Ceramic Injection Molding

Report Highlights

• The global market for powder metal injection molding is expected to be worth $984.9 million in 2009. This should increase to $1.9 billion in 2014, for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9%.
• Global sales for ceramic injection molding components are expected to reach $394.5 million in 2009 and $801.0 million in 2014, a CAGR of 15.2%.
• Liquid metal molding is expected to generate global revenues of $315.8 million in 2009. This should reach $465.0 million in 2014, for a CAGR of 8.1%.

INTRODUCTION

STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

• Provide an overview of ceramic and metal injection molding technology.
• Explain and forecast the rapid growth of Asian producers in the shifting global marketplace
• Understand the current industry structure and future trends.
• Analyze the business for potential new developments and trends.
• Identify and analyze applications and markets for potential for growth of this technology and business.
• Review and analyze the patents awarded over the past five years and assess technological trends.
• Explain and forecast the economic pressures facing raw materials for these industries. 
• Describe the business problems facing the industry. 

• Engineers and business managers who are looking for cost-effective solutions to vexing performance or cost problems in products they are currently developing. 
• Engineers working for existing ceramic and metal injection molding companies. They can see how they stack up against the state-of-the art in design and manufacturing. 
• Entrepreneurs who will be able to identify new areas for application of this technology and thus use it to start new businesses. Particularly important in this category are plastic injection molders in the United States and Europe who are taking a beating from low prices, Asian competition, and declining demand. 
• The current manufacturers who use the PIM and thixo-molding manufacturing processes. They will understand the global nature of this business, the existing competition, the fluid nature of the industry structure as well as potential opportunities to use the technology to increase their PIM production and sales.
• The businesses that will be able to understand the current industry structure and competition so as to identify threats and opportunities. This information will be useful to anyone considering an investment in the industry.
• The report also provides information that would help a reader understand the MIM business and assist in evaluation of a new business plan, or evaluation of stock values of a publicly owned company that participates in the businesses such as BASF (BF on the New York Stock Exchange) or Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP).. 
• Other individuals will also find this report valuable. Scientists and academia will use it to understand the business and identify the areas for research and training of personnel to support the industry.

• Presents a concise review of the manufacturing technology and clearly identifies the current status and new developments as well as areas for future developments. 
• Covers global companies, with emphasis on North America, that participate in the ceramic and metal injection molding business as molders, materials’ suppliers, or equipment suppliers. Emphasis is on the molders and molded components.  
• Covers the broad range of markets and applications that are served by the metal injection molding industry. It provides five-year projections for powders and PIM parts made from ceramics and metals. Forecasts are made in constant U.S. dollars or pounds. Historical sales data are actual numbers. 
• Describes the diverse products that can be made via powder metal injection molding and thixo-molding technologies and the different markets for parts, including automotive, consumer products, industrial, medical, and telecommunications. The detailed analyses of the applications, markets, market shares, and growth prospects are presented. 
• Provides accounts of key business presentations at industry meetings and the individual views of industry executives. Since these opinions may conflict, BCC provides multiple views, and then draws its own conclusions. 
• Presents a review and analyses of the industry structure and global competition and raises the issues that need to be addressed by the companies to assess the competition.

• The manufacturing companies currently using powder injection molding and thixo-molding technologies to serve a wide variety of markets.
• The equipment suppliers as well as suppliers of binders and feedstock to the manufacturing companies.
• Technical reports, product literature, and press reports on metal injection molding technology, the powder metallurgy industry, and the end users of MIM components and parts.
• Trade publications (such as the American Metal Market, the International Journal of Powder Metallurgy, Metal Powder Report, Design News, and Injection Molding Magazine) and interviews with industry participants.
• Statistics and literature from the Metal Powder Industries Federation, the Japan Powder Metallurgy Association, and the European Powder Metallurgy Association.
• Government publications such as U.S. Industrial Outlook, Department of Commerce Studies, and U.S. Census reports on business conditions.
• Sales and marketing data from specialized sources, Web sites of the relevant companies and research institutions, selected firms in the industry and correspondence with willing executives and personnel in the industry.
• The U.S. Patent Bibliographic Database from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and company product brochures, annual reports, and other literature.