Powder Injection Molding Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The global powder injection molding market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.92% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
Powder Injection Molding (PIM) is a mass-production process technique that produces components composed of metal (MIM = Metal Injection Moulding) or ceramics (CIM = Ceramic Injection Moulding) with complicated geometries in a high output. PIM is a great technique for producing complicated, functioning components in large quantities with high material needs.

Today, metallurgical powder injection molding is a low-cost mass manufacturing technology for producing small to medium-sized components weighing between 0.1 and 300 g. Precision apparatus engineering, measurement and control technology, medical technology, watch and home technologies, the lock and fittings business, automobile, and the weapons industry are among the most common applications.

PIM, which originates in the history of powder injection molding, is based on established powder metallurgy and ceramic processing technologies, and it has a high inherent versatility, allowing manufacturers and designers to choose from a wide variety of material possibilities. This is because the process starts with a metal or ceramic powder; therefore, various powders can be mixed to get the desired properties, such as strength, electrical conductivity, or corrosion resistance. The binder used in the PIM process allows the powder to be a fluidized liquid during injection molding. This implies that various materials may be molded with PIM, including those that are not normally pliable or simple to form. At the same time, these numerous material options provide a high level of design flexibility, allowing powder injection molding to be customized to the changing demands of many sectors.

GLOBAL POWDER INJECTION MOLDING MARKET DRIVERS:

• Automotive parts have to be tough and enduring due to the several driving conditions they operate. These requirements can be satisfied by using PIM technology to build complex components like engine parts, gearbox systems, and other structural parts. PIM enables car manufacturers to reduce costs because it differs from the materials needed for other processes. Due to the multifunctionality of PIM, it is possible to use metals, ceramics, and polymers for automotive applications.

Furthermore, with the help of PIM, the actualization of high mixers ensures high-volume production of high-quality components, which corresponds to the requirements of the manufacturing industry. The growth in the automotive industry further fuels this utilization. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the United Kingdom’s output is anticipated to hit 860,000 automobiles in 2023 and a million by 2028.

Nonetheless, in March 2024, Tata Motors Group entered into a facilitation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government regarding an exploratory study on setting up a car manufacturing plant in the state. The MoU calls for an investment of US$1.08 billion (Rs. 9,000 crores) over five years.

Moreover, powder injection molding persistently contributes to automotive manufacturing by introducing design freedom, economic benefits, and enhanced component performance to vehicle technology and performance to a significantly large extent.

• Product launches in PIM drive the market's growth by developing better quality materials, advanced mechanisms of processing, and novel applications. These advancements enable the manufacturing of complicated geometries, high-performance components, and lightweight parts crucial for sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics. INDO-MIM, for instance, is a fully integrated Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) components manufacturer with expertise and skills in design, tooling, materials, and numerous finishing and assembly procedures. With an Industrial basis in India and the USA, INDO-MIM has the largest MIM installed capacity worldwide.

Alongside this, there is a constantly enhanced benefit and lower cost due to changes in binder systems and sintering methods, pushing PIM towards more competitiveness. In addition, design optimization and tooling innovations have reduced development time and increased customization options that enable businesses to adapt to new industry conditions. OptiMIM uses advanced metal injection molding technology to create small precision metal parts with high detail, density, and volume severity. Tenac-C FF520, offered by Asahi-Kasei, is a specially developed ultra-high fluidity polyacetal copolymer used in catalytic debonding carried out in PIM. Altogether, the continuous development of products enhances PIM’s desirability and adoption across numerous industries globally.

GLOBAL POWDER INJECTION MOLDING MARKET SEGMENT ANALYSIS:

Based on technology, metal injection molding is one of the most rapidly developing segments.

Metal injection molding (MIM) provides a manufacturing capacity for making complicated forms in high volumes. The technique uses tiny metal powders (usually less than 20 micrometers) custom-formulated with a binder (different thermoplastics, waxes, and other materials) to form a feedstock. The feedstock is introduced into a cavity (or many cavities) of a standard injection molding machine. After the green component is removed, most of the binder is extracted using thermal or solvent processing, with the remainder removed. In contrast, the component is sintered (solid-state dispersed) in a controlled atmosphere furnace. The MIM method is extremely similar to plastic injection molding and high-pressure die casting, and it can generate almost identical forms and configuration characteristics.

The metal injection molding method produces mechanical qualities almost identical to those of wrought materials while being a net-shape process technology with excellent dimensional tolerance control. Metal injection-molded components have practically limitless form and geometric feature capabilities, and large production rates may be achieved by using multi-cavity tooling.

The automobile sector, in particular, has embraced MIM due to its ability to make small, delicate metal components with high accuracy and outstanding mechanical characteristics. MIM benefits components such as gears, hinges, brackets, and different engine and gearbox parts by allowing for near-net-shape fabrication, which reduces the need for subsequent procedures and material waste. For instance, from April 2023 to March 2024, the automobile industry manufactured 28.43 million cars in India, which included passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, three-wheelers, two-wheelers, and quadricycles, as per Invest India statistics.

Asia Pacific's powder injection molding market is anticipated to grow significantly.

The Asia Pacific powder injection molding (PIM) market is being pushed by rising industrialization, notably in China, Japan, India, and South Korea, which are key automotive and electronics manufacturing hubs. PIM technologies like metal injection molding are characteristic of these industries since they seek lightweight and high-performance parts. According to Invest India, in 2023, the electronics market in India was approximately $155 billion, with local manufacturers standing at $100.75 billion, which is 65%. Moreover, according to data from the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, the retail sales of China’s consumer electronics were at US$305 billion in 2023, with a 4% growth rate. In 2024, the rate rose to 5%.

Furthermore, as stated by PIB in 2023, during the past 20 years, the Indian automotive industry has advanced to a whole new level, and it is recognized as one of the most competitive globally. It stands in second position in the global production of two-wheelers, eighth position in commercial vehicles, sixth position in passenger vehicles, and for tractor productions, it is in the number one position. In recent years, India has emerged as one of the preferred destinations for automobile parts and automobiles and has climbed up the ladder in competitive locations. On the other hand, Hyundai Motors announced in February 2024 that it will invest more than $3.85 billion (Rs 32,000 crore) between 2023 and 2033 to extend its EV portfolio and improve its current vehicle and SUV platforms.

Besides this, China is the world's largest automobile market in terms of yearly sales and manufacturing output, with local production projected to exceed 35 million vehicles by 2025. According to figures from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, more than 26 million automobiles were sold in 2021, including 21.48 million passenger vehicles, a 7.1% increase over 2020.

This trend highlights Asia Pacific's crucial position in the global PIM market, which is being pushed by technical developments and increased applications across various industrial areas. For instance, in July 2021, BASF established a new Centre of Excellence laboratory for its Catamold business in Shanghai, China. The new plant is a hub of knowledge for MIM solutions and products in China and throughout Asia.

Global Powder Injection Molding Market Key Developments:

• In January 2024, AddUp's Tooling Competence Centre announced #2024AMIM - 2024 Additive Manufacturing for Injection Moulding, a new project to develop and implement additive manufacturing advances for injection molding applications.
• In November 2023, At Formnext, the world's leading additive manufacturing event, HP Inc. announced a strategic partnership with INDO-MIM, one of the world's largest players in the MIM industry and an emerging player in the additive manufacturing powder industry. INDO-MIM has originally invested in three cutting-edge HP Metal Jet S100 printers as part of this cooperation, demonstrating its dedication to improving additive manufacturing internationally.
• In December 2022, CoreTech System Co., Ltd. (Moldex3D) announced a strategic relationship with Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (SHI) to improve the integration of virtual CAE simulation and practical injection molding machinery. This collaboration established a two-way bridge that connects the CAE simulation to an actual injection molding machine.

The global powder injection molding market is segmented and analyzed as follows:

By Type

• Metal Injection Molding (MIM)
• Ceramics Injection Molding (CIM)

By Application

• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Electrical and Electronics
• Medical
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of South America
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Rest of the Middle East and Africa
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Rest of Asia-Pacific