The winners in the 2016 Powder Metallurgy (PM) Design Excellence Awards competition, sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF), amply demonstrate PM’s capabilities in their own ways. They focus on PM’s strong points to gain and extend their competitive advantage, push production capabilities and process tolerances to their very limits, and bring originality to the conception of what is possible through creative design.

Grand Prize Awards

The Grand Prize in the Automotive—Transmission Category was awarded to GKN Sinter Metals, Auburn Hills, Michigan, for five components—a side gear, two pinion gears, a locking side gear and a locking plate—comprising a forged PM electronic locking differential gear set made for Ford Motor Company. The parts go into the rear axle differential of the Ford F-150 light truck, the first time forged powder metal differential gears have been used in such an application.

The Grand Prize in the Automotive—Chassis Category went to Keystone Powdered Metal Co., St. Marys, Pennsylvania, for seven components—rake cam, left-hand inner cam, retainer guide, right-hand rake teeth energy-absorbing eccentric strap cam, column mounting insert teeth and left-hand rake teeth—made for its customer Nexteer Automotive. The heat-treated diffusion-alloyed steel components are all part of the steering column in the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks.

The Grand Prize in the Aerospace/Military Category was won by Advanced Forming Technology, an ARC Group Worldwide Company, Longmont, Colorado, for a front sight base. The MIM-4605 low-alloy steel part is used on the AR-15 rifle. The front sight base, made by metal injection molding (MIM), is much larger than the typical MIM part and has a complex geometry.

The Grand Prize in the Medical/Dental Category was won by Parmatech Corporation, Petaluma, California, for four stainless steel MIM components—articulation lock bar, articulation connector, articulation drive block and knife guide—used in an articulating endoscopic surgical device designed specifically for thoracic surgery.

Awards of Distinction

Awards of Distinction were given to the following organizations: Cloyes Gear & Products (automotive-engine category), Capstan (automotive-chassis category), GKN Sinter Metals (automotive-chassis category), Indo-US (lawn and garden/off-highway), Advanced Forming Technology (aerospace/military), Parmatech Corp. (hand tools/recreation), Indo-US (electronic/electrical), GKN Sinter Metals (electronic/electrical), Flomet LLC (medical/dental) as well as Advanced Forming Technology (medical/dental).

The awards were presented during the 2016 International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials (PowderMet2016) that took place June 5-8 in Boston.