In the Military/Firearms Category for MIM components, an Award of Distinction has been given
to ARC Group Worldwide, for an S-7 tool steel locking block housed within the lower receiver
of a semi-automatic pistol for securing and stabilizing movement of the slide and barrel. The
locking block is a critical component of a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol and provides stability and
support of the slide and barrel during actuation. The part is housed within a polymer frame that
utilizes a single-action striker-fired trigger mechanism. MIM processing was selected for making
this part because of the complexity, annual usage, and the existing presence in the firearms
industry.
The winners in the 2023 Powder Metallurgy (PM) Design Excellence Awards competition,
sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF), demonstrate outstanding
examples of PM’s diversity and ability to meet critical requirements. From electric vehicles to
medical implants, once again, parts fabricators have demonstrated PM’s versatility and unique
ability to challenge competing technologies. These award-winning components use PM’s
flexibility to push forward new concepts and process controls to demonstrate the inexhaustible
range of PM’s capabilities.
