Las Vegas Strip Hosts North American PM Industry

The North American powder metallurgy (PM) industry descended on the famous Las Vegas Strip last week for POWDERMET2017, co-located with AMPM2017. This year's delegates numbered over 1,000 from 30 countries. Delegates attended technical presentations and special interest programs on the latest R&D in PM, particulate materials, and metal additive manufacturing (AM). The annual poster display was extremely robust, containing almost 50 posters, thanks in part to the heavy number of students in attendance as a result of a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Not to be outdone, the sold-out trade exhibition featured more than 100 companies showcasing top products, goods, and services.

The conference began Tuesday, June 13, with a reception in Hyde Bellagio, overlooking the stunning Bellagio fountains, where old and new colleagues gathered to renew acquaintances and welcome the 40 NSF students.

During the Opening General Session, Metal Powder Industries Federation President Patrick McGeehan provided an overview of the current state of the PM industry in North America. Happily, the PM industry continued on a moderate growth track through 2016 and is expected to repeat this performance in 2017. Heavily involved in additive manufacturing, keynote speaker Todd Grimm, T.A. Grimm & Associates, provided an energetic update on "Navigating the Metal Additive Manufacturing Landscape."

Other key events included the PM Industry Awards Luncheon that honored the twelve Distinguished Service to PM Recipients, APMI Fellow recipients, and more; and the Design Excellence Awards Luncheon, which announced 18 award-winning PM components.

Another unforgettable PM conference concludes. Next year's POWDERMET2018 and AMPM2018 conferences will head to Texas for the 300th anniversary of San Antonio.