Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: RTP Company | Subject: PowderFlo
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 25 October 2002
Metals move into injection moulds
RTP Company has become the exclusive North American licensee for PowderFlo metal injection moulding (MIM) compounds.
RTP Company has become the exclusive North American licensee for PowderFlo metal injection moulding (MIM) compounds The agreement with Latitude Manufacturing Technologies of Hackettstown, NJ grants RTP Company the rights to commercially compound and sell MIM materials using the PowderFlo trade name
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 25 Oct 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Custom putter formed by metal injection moulding
When golf club manufacturer Ping of Phoenix, Arizona was developing a new putter, it wanted to combine custom club specifications with an efficient production manufacturing process.
New range of permanently anti-static compounds
By employing advanced compounding techniques, the new PermaStat Plus materials boost mechanical or electrical properties in various applications that require protection from static build up
This historic agreement marks RTP Company's entry into the $36 billion metal materials market.
According to Robert J Wick, Product Manager - Structural Materials for RTP Company, "The agreement enables RTP Company to translate its vast knowledge of compounding and molding to the MIM industry.
Our customers who now work exclusively with plastics will be able to use PowderFlo materials to expand into entirely new markets while using their existing injection moulding equipment.
Further reading
Compound clicks with golfers
A polyphthalamide compound from RTP Company is giving a new range of golf clubs the sense of feel demanded by golfers.
Precoloured compounds make a case for gadgetry
Precoloured compounds from RTP Company were chosen to incorporate innovative, trend-setting colours into the new wireless PDA, the Cybiko Xtreme.
Being able to offer consistent and quality MIM feedstocks that give metals processing characteristics similar to plastics allows RTP Company to greatly expand the range of material solutions we can offer our customers".
For Latitude Manufacturing Technologies, the agreement signals a significant step in the growth of the MIM market.
"PowderFlo materials are the most advanced in the industry", says Tom Pelletiers, Director of Sales and Marketing for Latitude Manufacturing Technologies, "and RTP Company has an equal degree of advanced processing expertise.
Coupled with RTP Company's worldwide reputation for materials innovation and responsive technical service, this agreement creates a team that can realise the promise of MIM for a manufacturer.
The technology is no longer developmental.
It's available now in a proven, commercially viable process with full technical backing".
One of the key features of this technology is that PowderFlo products require no debinding.
Unlike other MIM binders which require solvent, thermal, or other possibly toxic debinding steps, PowderFlo products achieve their high degree of purity through simple air-drying.
Because of PowderFlo's unique binder system (a patented combination of aqueous agar and proprietary additives), the materials can be used to make products weighing over 200g and there is no limitation on wall thickness.
In addition, PowderFlo materials can be custom formulated by RTP Company to meet the specific needs of a particular application.
PowderFlo products are currently available in four grades of stainless steel (316L, 410, 440C, and 17-4PH) and two nickel-based super alloys.
All are available in 50lb to truckload quantities.
Additional grades of steel compounds, molybdenum, copper alloys, and other metal alloys will be available in the near future.
RTP Company and Latitude Manufacturing Technologies will jointly engage in continued R and D and market development for PowderFlo products along with providing technical assistance to customers.
• RTP Company: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
