At the PowderMet2022: International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials, ARC Group Worldwide received two Grand Prizes and two Awards of Distinction. Rees Jones, Erika Garver, and Michael Wiseman were at the ceremony of this awards held in in Portland, Oregon.

In the Aerospace/Military/Firearms Category for MIM components, a Grand Prize has been awarded to ARC Group Worldwide and their customer Palmetto State Armory, for a fire control housing that holds the trigger mechanism in a consumer pistol firearm. The fire control housing mounts into the frame of a pistol and supports various fire control mechanism components. The part facilitates the assembly of the firearm and supports the sear and blocker that are safety components.

In the Electronic/Electrical Components Category for MIM components, a Grand Prize has been awarded to ARC Group Worldwide, for a stator assembly, plate and frame used in small aerospace servo valves. Both parts are produced using two-cavity, three-plate injection molds. The stator assembly is part of a flux-carrying device that delivers magnet and coil flux to an armature. The assembly is used in servo valves for flight control actuation. MIM technology offered an opportunity to produce this assembly at a significantly reduced cost.

In the Hand Tools/Recreation Category for MIM components, an Award of Distinction has been given to ARC Group Worldwide, for a lock-arm button used in a pocketknife. When depressed, the button fires the blade open or allows the operator to close the cutting tool safely. The part is molded using MIM-420 stainless steel and is hot isostatically pressed after sintering.

In the Medical/Dental Category for MIM components, an Award of Distinction has been given to ARC Group Worldwide, for a MIM 14-4PH impaction handle lever, a single-use-instrument used in knee-replacement surgery. Tight profiles are maintained in relation to the distal end of the instrument to ensure proper engagement with mating parts. This impaction handle lever represents one of the first single-use-instruments converted from plastic to metal injection molding.

The winners in the 2022 Powder Metallurgy (PM) Design Excellence Awards competition, sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF), showcase outstanding examples of PM’s unique ability to challenge competing technologies. From lightweighting to complex geometries, provides component designers with the ability to utilize advanced engineering methods that add up to part-to-part uniformity for improved product quality; shape and material flexibility; application versatility, and more.

Click here to watch the article on our LinkedIn Page!