Abstract
EPMA PM Thesis Competition
EPMA has announced the launch of its 2014 PM Thesis Competition at both diploma (master's) and doctoral (PhD) levels. The aim of the competition is to promote powder metallurgy among young scientists at European academic establishments and to encourage research at under- and postgraduate levels. It has run biennially since 1998. The competition is open to all applicants who have graduated from a European university with a thesis in an area classified as powder metallurgy and whose thesis was approved during the 2011/2012, 2012/2013 or 2013/2014 academic years.
The prizes, sponsored by Höganäs AB, will be presented at Euro PM2014 in Salzburg. Winners will receive a cheque for €750 in the diploma category and €1000 in the doctoral category, with the opportunity of publishing in Powder Metallurgy and free registration to PM2014. The submission deadline is 2 May 2014.
Entries may be submitted or the 2014 EPMA PM Thesis Competition downloaded at www.epma.com/thesiscompetition.
Hardmetals short course
Following the successful sintering courses run in 2012 and 2013, the EPMA has organised an intensive two-day course on Hardmetals to take place in Vienna, Austria on 9–11 April 2014. The Short Course is run by the European Hard Materials Group (EHMG) of the EPMA with support from its members. The technical content has been selected by Dr Leo Prakash and Dr Steven Moseley.
Following an overview of hard materials (high speed steels to diamond) and a history of hardmetals, subsequent sessions will cover raw material sources, manufacturing routes for raw materials, shaping, sintering, finishing, cemented carbides, thermodynamic software modelling such as Calphad, and Dictra for metallurgical engineering, applications and simulation.
The participation fee for the two-day course is €695 for EPMA members, €795 for non-members and €650 for academics or students. Participants will receive two nights’ accommodation, (9 and 10 April), all relevant course documents plus refreshments and a course meal on the evening of 10 April.
An additional feature of this year's event is a laboratory course on 9 April, which will introduce the fundamentals of hardmetal manufacturing, with experience of powders and equipment. Organised by Professor Dr Wolf-Dieter Schubert, the laboratory course will take place at the Vienna Technical University. The fee is €350 and the limited places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
For further information visit www.epma.com/shortcourse.
Global market growth for injection moulding
According to recent market research on metal and ceramic injection moulding from BCC Research, the global metal and ceramic injection moulding components market was valued at $1·5bn in 2012 and is projected to nearly $2·9bn by 2018, a six-year compound annual growth rate of 11·4% from 2012 to 2018.
This prediction continues the continual strong growth over the past two decades. While the market crash in 2008 and 2009 had repercussions in the MIM industry, with automotive sales dropping across the world, larger companies have, says BCC, grown stronger. Key to this resilience has been diversification across applications sectors such as medical and dental, aerospace, electronics and communications, and luxury products. Additionally, the market has branched into several new applications, firearms being the most prominent.
Growth in parts for the cell phone and other handheld products and electronics has in the past decade resulted in the industry shifting its base slowly to emerging markets and Asia, where most electronics manufacturing takes place.
Another significant change is the emergence of companies with valuations in excess of $50m. The first two MIM manufacturers to break this barrier are the ARC Group, because of its recent acquisition, and Indo-US MIM. BCC Research predicts that there will be five to ten players above the $50m mark by 2018, and several crossing the $100 m threshold. On the supply side, several players are expected to exceed $50 m in sales from MIM in the next few years.
This report provides an overview of the global market for ceramic and metal injection moulding. Analyses of global market trends provide data from 2012, and projections of annual growth rates to 2018. Assessments of the current technology, new developments, and business opportunities are also presented, alongside reviews and analysis of patents awarded in CIM and MIM technologies and analysis of supplier products and technologies.
Further information at www.bccresearch.com.
HIP for offshore energy applications
A detailed programme has now been released for the one day workshop on HIP for (offshore) energy applications, to take place in Aberdeen on 16 April 2014. The workshop is organised by the Particulate Engineering Committee of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, supported by EPMA and TWI (which will host the meeting).
Challenges of ensuring product capability and reliability under a range of extreme environments range from high temperatures and pressures in turbines through to sea-bed oil and gas applications and many others, all involving combinations of temperature, pressure, friction, wear, corrosion, stress and impact conditions.
Further information, including the programme, at www.iom3online.org/hip2014.
Nanotechnology directory
The Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN – www.nanoktn.com) has published the latest version of its UK Nanotechnology Directory. Now in its fourth edition, the guidebook features over 450 organisations active in micro- and nanotechnologies and the associated supply chains, offering the potential to identify partners with specific expertise. Sections address the themes: Healthcare and life sciences, ICT-Hardware, Engineering applications, Chemical and consumer products, and Metrology, instrumentation and standards. Email