San Antonio Riverwalk Hosts PM Industry

The North American powder metallurgy (PM) industry headed to Texas earlier this week to stroll the famous San Antonio Riverwalk during POWDERMET2018 and AMPM2018. These co-located conferences brought together 872 delegates from 25 countries for four days of the latest research and development in powder metallurgy, particulate materials, and metal additive manufacturing, as well as annual industry awards presentations and networking.

During the Opening General Session, Metal Powder Industries Federation President John Sweet provided an overview of the current State of the PM Industry in North America. In 2017, the PM industry grew modestly, with PM tooling and equipment makers reporting favorable business levels. Based on the 2018 PM Pulse Survey conducted by the MPIF, 2018 sales are expected to remain the same or increase. Keynote speaker Casey Selecman, associate director, advisory services, IHS Markit, followed on Sweet’s heels to discuss disruptive forces in the automotive industry.

Several key changes were incorporated into this year’s conferences. As the metal AM industry grows, so does the need for more robust programming. AMPM2018 conference attendees welcomed an additional day of technical sessions, as well as the ability to attend all POWDERMET2018 conference technical sessions and events. Additionally, the PM Evening Alehouse was introduced as an exhibit hall event this year, which allowed attendees to network with exhibitors in the sold-out tradeshow Monday after the close of technical sessions.

The National Science Foundation sponsored 40 U.S. college and university students to attend POWDERMET2018 for the second year in a row. This program was enhanced by providing students with an opportunity to present their posters during Grant TNT: Talk ‘N Technology sessions throughout the conference. Students also attended a meet-and-greet reception for students and mentors, and student resumes were posted at the conference and within the conference phone app. Four CPMT/Axel Madsen Grant recipients were also included in all student opportunities.

Other conference events included the PM industry Luncheon, which recognized only the second Vanguard Award recipient; a Distinguished Service to PM Award recipient and APMI Fellow recipients; and the Design Excellence Awards Luncheon, which announced 19 award-winning components. Another unforgettable PM conference concludes. Mark your calendar for next year’s POWDERMET2019 and AMPM2019 conferences, June 23–26, 2019, in Phoenix, Arizona.