Development of metal injection molding

Metal injection molding can be traced back to the powder injection molding preparation of ceramic spark plugs that began in the 1920s. In the following decades, powder injection molding mainly focused on ceramic injection molding. It wasn't until 1979 that the metal injection molding products of Parmatech formed by Wiech and others won two awards. At that time, Wiech and Rivers were granted patents. Powder injection molding began to turn to metal injection molding.

In the past, due to the lack of suitable powders and too high prices, incomplete knowledge platforms, immature technology, not long time for people to understand and accept the market, too long production (including mold manufacturing) cycles, insufficient investment, etc., their development and application were relatively slow.

In order to solve the difficulties of MIM technology and promote the practical application of MIM technology, in the mid-1980s, the United States formulated a plan for advanced powder work. The research content covered 18 topics related to injection molding. Subsequently, Japan, Germany, etc. also actively carried out the development and research of MIM.

Wiech established Witec in 1980, Brunswick entered the MIM industry in 1982, and acquired Witec, and then gradually registered Omark Industries, Remington Military Products, Rocky Dental and other subsidiaries. In 1986, the Japanese company Nippon Seison introduced the Wiech process. In 1990 Israel Metalor2000 company introduced Wiech process technology from Parmatech Company and established MIM production line.

With the continuous deepening of MIM research and the development of new binders, continuous improvement of milling technology and degreasing technology, it has achieved industrialization by the early 1990s. After more than 20 years of efforts, MIM has become a new type of near-net-shape forming technology that has developed rapidly and is most promising in the field of powder metallurgy.