Winners of the 2010 Powder Metallurgy Design Excellence Awards competition, sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation, were announced in Hollywood, Florida, at PowderMet2010, the 2010 International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials. Receiving grand prizes and awards of distinction, the winning parts are outstanding examples of powder metallurgy’s (PM) precision, performance, complexity, economy, and innovative design advantages.
The Grand Prize in the Automotive— Transmission Category was won by GKN Sinter Metals for a fully integrated planetary carrier and rocker-style one-way clutch assembly, an industry first. Designed and made for Ford Motor Company and used in the Ford Super Duty truck five-speed automatic transmission, the application is a three-piece sinter-brazed planetary carrier. Smith Metal Products received the Grand Prize in the Hand Tools/Recreation Category for a 17-4 PH stainless steel hunting arrow tip—called a shuttle T-lock broadhead—made by metal injection molding (MIM) for Trophy Taker, Inc. FloMet LLC won the Grand Prize in the Aerospace/Military Category for a safe and arm rotor used in an explosive device for a Department of Defense application. And Advanced Materials Technologies Pte Ltd. won the Grand Prize in the Industrial Motors/Controls & Hydraulics Category for four complex 316L stainless steel MIM parts—lock cover, lock barrel pin, lock barrel boss, and lock barrel square—assembled into a locking device for heavy machinery operating in harsh environments.
The competition judges awarded eight Awards of Distinction. PMG Füssen GmbH won an Award of Distinction in the Automotive—Engine Category for a complex PM steel crankshaft sprocket used in a V-6 engine. The part is.made for iwis motorsysteme GmbH & Co. KG. PMG Indiana Corporation received an Award of Distinction in the Automotive— Transmission Category for a one-way clutch outer race made for EXEDY Globalparts Corporation. ASCO Sintering Company won one of two Awards of Distinction in the Hardware/Appliances Category for a high-strength sinter-hardened PM steel dead-locking lever used in a 40H Series high-security mortise lock made by Stanley Security Solutions, Inc. The other Award of Distinction in this category was won by Capstan Atlantic for a high-density transfixed pinion gear and sector used in a high-volume printing application.
The other Awards of Distinction include two in the Hand Tools/Recreation Category. The first went to Burgess-Norton Mfg. Co. for a final belt-drive sprocket which transmits torque from the transmission to the rear wheel on a motorcycle. Megamet Solid Metals, Inc., won the second Award of Distinction in this category for an upswept grip safety used in the 1911-style 45-caliber pistol made by Colt’s Manufacturing Company, LLC. Finally, Lovejoy Sintered Solutions LLC won two Awards of Distinction in the Industrial Motors/Controls & Hydraulics Category. The first was for a rotating machine counterweight used in a refrigeration compressor for truck trailers, and the second for a PM steel tensioner assembly made for its customer Rosta AG.
Complete details of the winning parts will be published in the July/August issue of the International Journal of Powder Metallurgy.