Metal Injection Molding

The Keystone State has a rich manufacturing history, much of which is cultivated from an abundance of raw materials that reside within its hills and valleys transported by its rivers and streams.  The petroleum, natural gas, coal, water, forests, and minerals provided the building blocks from which cities were birthed. An infrastructure was developed, and foundational industries created vast opportunities as an emerging nation assumed a new standing in the world.

These raw materials and natural resources were of little value without the creative and determined vision of individuals residing in Pennsylvania, such as Andrew Carnegie, Charles Schwab, Eugene Grace and Henry Frick often referred to as the “iron men” of the Keystone state in that same vein Don Heaney, a Ph.D. metallurgist teaching at Penn State, helped pioneer and commercialize a new process called Metal Injection Molding or also known as MIM.

Heaney literally wrote the Handbook of Metal Injection Molding and is considered a world resource for technical information on powder metallurgy.  Heaney took that knowledge and successfully applied it in building Advanced Powder Products located in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. APP is nationally recognized as the fastest-growing MIM company in America – right here in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Iron Man country.

In non-technical terms metal injection molding (MIM) is a unique process in which finely metal powders are mixed with binder materials to create a "feedstock" that is then shaped and solidified using equipment similar to plastic injection molding. The molding process forces the “feedstock” into a precision mold cavity which generates the unique dimensional features of the desired component which gives you design freedom.  These molded parts, which are soft and fragile are called a green part. These then move on to secondary process steps of solvent binder removal and high-temperature sintering process that hardens the parts to their final configuration.

 MIM is designed for high volume, complex parts that to be shaped in a single step. The outstanding aspect of the MIM process is that upon completion the MIM parts are within 98%+ of a part machined completely from the same metallic parts.  Applications range from dental and medical implants to aerospace and industrial hand tools. 

Metallurgy Reimagined® is not just an APP marketing slogan it reflects upon the rich history of Pennsylvania’s previous heritage and culture in metallic DNA.  World-class manufacturing undergirded by advancements in technology is creating new opportunities bringing high tech career possibilities and employment to this region.  

Nicholas Eidem - Advanced Powder Products

Website: https://advancedpowderproducts.com/