This year marks 35 years since the birth of a revolutionary process that combines traditional powder metallurgy with plastic injection molding, resulting in the Metal Injection Molding (MIM) technology known today. AFT has been present in Hungary since 2001 and is one of Europe’s largest companies specializing in MIM technology. Thanks to numerous technological developments over the past three and a half decades, AFT’s technology achieves significantly lower costs compared to traditional manufacturing methods while continuing to produce top-quality products. One proof of this achievement is the two special awards won at the 2021 Powdermet conference!
What is Powdermet?
The 57th Powdermet conference is a leading North American technical conference focusing on powder metallurgy and particulate materials, held in Orlando, Florida, in 2021. The conference is open to professionals from all sectors of the industry, which is how AFT-Hungary Ltd.—as a member of the ARC Group Worldwide—participated. A highlight of the annual Powdermet is the Powder Metallurgy Design Excellence Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in powder metallurgy design. These awards are a major recognition for companies using MIM technology, and this year two products developed by AFT-Hungary competed in the automotive and hardware categories. Both products were honored with special awards.
Awarded Products
Newly Developed Electronic Key Shaft: For the engineering team involved, developing a thin, long key shaft with multiple intersecting surfaces for mass production was a true challenge. Due to the product’s narrow dimensions and safety-critical application, strict adherence to industrial guidelines was essential. The product was successfully brought into production without machining, using only two pressing operations and gauge inspection.
Electric Parking Brake Retaining Element: Originally designed for plastic, producing this part with MIM technology posed a significant challenge for engineers and tool designers. The dual-spiral, angled tooth design pushes the boundaries of what the technology allows in a single injection molding step. Thanks to the development, a manufacturable, mass-producible part was created without the need for machining, meeting the stringent quality assurance standards of the automotive industry.
These products could only have been produced with significant material waste using other technologies. However, MIM technology generates virtually no waste, as leftover material can be re-milled and reused.