2020 PM Design Excellence Awards - Automotive

The Grand Prize in the Automotive—Engine Category for Conventional PM components has been awarded to Porite Taiwan Co. Ltd. and their customer Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, for a VVT sprocket used in a new generation E-VVT design that integrates a sprocket with the stator, and the function of the internal rotor is provided by the gear box.

A Grand Prize has been awarded to PMG Indiana Corporation in the Automotive—Transmission Category for Conventional PM components for a torque converter one-way-clutch stator assembly used in an 8-speed transmission made for FCA US LLC. In the locked position the part is subjected to a 350 Nm torque and traditionally the races are manufactured from wrought steel, or powder forged and case hardened to handle the high stress.

In the Automotive—Transmission Category for MIM components, a Grand Prize has been awarded to Phillips-Medisize – Metal Injection Molding for an actuator arm supplied to Means Industries and used in a 9-speed forward transmission assembly for General Motors and Ford Motor Co. The actuator arm is part of a Means patented selectable one-way clutch that replaces the reverse clutch.

Awards of Distinction

In the Automotive—Engine Category for Conventional PM components, an Award of Distinctions has been given to Nichols Portland LLC for a variable displacement vane-pump rotor used in an automotive engine lubrication system. The three-level part possesses numerous critical tolerance features achieved with minimal secondary operations.

The second Award of Distinction in the Automotive—Engine Category for Conventional PM components. This was given to MPP for a high-strength camshaft-bearing cap. The part is made using a PM aluminum-copper-magnesium alloy. The machinability of the PM aluminum alloy closely matches that of the cast aluminum heads, permitting consistent line boring prior to installation of the camshaft.

An Award of Distinction in the Automotive—Engine Category for MIM components has been given to Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd. for three min-flow setting devices used in the turbocharger of a four-wheeler vehicle. The parts are made using MIM-316L and replaced components that were machined in multiple steps.

In the Automotive—Transmission Category for Conventional PM components, an Award of Distinction has been made to Allied Sinterings Inc. for a sear pin assembly. The part is used in a shift-by-wire automotive transmission actuator that causes an output shaft to rotate the sear pin, allowing a pawl to engage a default-to-park during a catastrophic transmission failure.

In the Automotive—Transmission Category for MIM components, an Award of Distinction has been given to Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd. for a park lock lever manual override used in a vehicle handbrake.

An Award of Distinction has been given to Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd. in the Automotive—Chassis Category for MIM components, for left- and right-hand-side cable guides used in a four-wheeler roof assembly. The MIM parts are made in a two-cavity mold and replaced expensive machined components.