European PM Industry shows strong growth trend

The European powder metallurgy components industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the production of fabricated metal products, according to bernard williams of the EPMA

The European powder metallurgy components industry has grown in volume terms at an annualised rate of over 10% over the past 7 years, making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the production of fabricated metal products, stated Bernard Williams in his report on market trends at the EPMA's General Assembly and Management Seminar held in Lindau, mid-May 2000.

This, he said, was due in part to the overall rise in European vehicle production on which the PM industry is highly dependent, but also on a gradual increase in the weight of PM components which go into each car.

The average European car now contains around 7.3 kg of PM parts per car, approximately half of that contained in the average N.

American car (15 kg).

There is therefore scope to further expand applications for PM components in European cars, stated Williams, particularly in engines and gearboxes.

West European shipments of iron and steel powders for PM applications reached 133,158 tonnes in 1999 compared with 132,254 tonnes in 1998, to which is added 15,590 for copper and copper powders shipped in 1999 for use in bearings, friction materials and carbon brushes.

The European PM parts market was estimated at e1.1 billion giving it 22% share of global market with Asia taking 24% and North America 54%.

Williams also reported that the European hard materials industry, which produces cutting tools and wear resistant parts mainly from tungsten carbide-cobalt powders, has also seen healthy growth with output over the past 7 years rising from 5640 tonnes (1993) to around 9100 tonnes in 1999 an increase of 61%.

The European hard materials industry was estimated to have a sales value of e1.8 billion in 1999.

Williams stated that EU statistics showed that the combined production value of 'basic metals' and 'fabricated metal products' (the latter includes PM components production) reached e399.6 billion in 1998 - some 10.5% of total manufacturing in the EU and employing just under 3 million persons.

Of this total basic metals made up e185.9 billion, and fabricated metal products made up e213.7 billion.

Eurostat reports that the metal products sector grew by 3.9% in 1998 and by 7.6% in 1997.

Between 1993 and 1998 the production value of metal products increased by an average of 6.4% p.a.

whilst basic metals grew by 4.5% at constant prices.

This compares with an average growth of 10% for the PM Sector.

Williams also reported in Lindau on some of the major EHS issues tackled by the EPMA in 1999.

The EPMA has, for example, been involved over the past 4 years in lobbying the EU to distinguish between a preparation (mixture) and an alloy for classification of dangerous materials.

The result has been the recognition by the EU that alloys do indeed require special treatment and a clause has been included to cover this in the new Dangerous Preparations Directive preparations (99/45 EC) published in July 1999.

This is a very significant achievement for the lobbying group EIMAC of which EPMA is one of four members, said Williams.

EIMAC is now proposing a special classification procedure for alloys to the EU, which is also expected to have an impact on the global harmonization of 'mixtures' (alloy) classification currently under discussion at the OECD.

Williams also pointed to the obligation by companies in the EU to label products, substances and preparations for aquatic ecotoxicity under the new Dangerous Preparations Directive.

What is important here, he said, is that the current EU testing protocol would classify most metals and alloys as toxic to the aquatic environment, mainly because of the pH values at which they are being tested.

Even iron powder could be labelled as toxic under this protocol.

On the issue of toxicity of hard materials, Williams stated that the EPMA had cooperated with the International Tungsten Industry Association (ITIA) on testing the toxicity of tungsten carbide-cobalt powder mixtures and also cermet powders.

The results clearly show tungsten carbide-cobalt to be 'toxic' by inhalation and 'acute toxicity' in the case of cermets because of their finer grain size.

Williams said that health and safety issues related to hard materials have to be made very clear to the workforce and also customers which subsequently grind sintered blanks.

The results of the ITIA tests will require manufacturers to classify their hard material powders according to current EU legislation.

The EPMA will further cooperate with the ITIA and the Cobalt Development Institute (CDI) to produce guidelines for companies concerning the classification and handling of these products.

The speedy development of a global (ISO) standard to meet the needs of end-users, particularly those in the automotive sector, for enhanced property specifications for structural PM parts was being met, stated Williams.

He referred to the joint support of the EPMA and MPIF given to ISO TC 119 in revising Standard ISO5755 which is expected to be issued later this year.

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