Grand Prize in the Automotive-Engine:

The Grand Prize in the Automotive-Engine category is for a four-slot fuel valve seat made for Delphi.

The Metal Injection Molded part goes into the Multec3.5 compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel injector that satisfies the market’s need for a low-cost, low-pressure port fuel injector.

It is currently used by several small-engine and automotive applications, including aftermarket CNG conversions for trucks and cars, helping contribute to a reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions.
 

Aerospace/Military:

The Grand Prize in the Aerospace/Military category was made for UTC Aerospace Systems and Raytheon Company.

The stainless steel part is used on the Talon, an add-on guidance and control package that transforms a legacy 2.75-inch Hydra-70 unguided rocket into a low-cost, precision-guided weapon.

Three canards on each Talon act as the primary flight control surfaces. The Metal Injection Molded canard underwent a stringent qualification process.

Hardware/Appliance:

The Grand Prize in the Hardware/Appliance category, for three Metal Injection Molded parts—upper stop ring, stop ring and stop sleeve—made for Grohe, Germany.

The parts go into the valve of a bath shower temperature controller unit. Made of MIM-316L stainless steel, all three complex parts are fabricated close to net shape and special ceramic setters are employed for enhanced shape retention during sintering.

Medical/Dental:

The Grand Prize in the Medical/Dental category, for a Metal Injection Molded surgical keel punch made for Paragon Medical.

The part functions as a broach to remove bone during knee surgery. Made from MIM 17-4 PH stainless steel, the part is molded and sintered to net shape with no additional coining, machining or other post-processing to alter its shape.

Automotive-Chassis:


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The Award of Distinction in the Automotive-Chassis category, for a MIM-4605 low-alloy steel top plate and check shim stop made for its customer Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions.

The mating parts go into shock absorbers on the Chevrolet Camaro sports car. The Metal Injection Moulded design provided increased repeatability and accuracy, providing an estimated 25% cost savings.
 

Aerospace/Military:


An Award of Distinction in the Aerospace/Military category, for a MIM-4140 low-alloy steel latch made for Sig Sauer Inc.

The internal latch drives a subassembly for the telescoping feature of the collapsible stock on MCX and MPX rifles. The part was designed for Metal Injection Moulding as it could not be economically made using any other fabrication method.

Hand Tools/Recreation:


An Award of Distinction in the Hand Tools/Recreation category, for a set of Metal Injection Moulded parts, including a barrel block, gas block, bolt catch, 7.62 NATO mag conversion bar, ejector retainer, and extractor link, that go into an MDR rifle made by Deserttech.

The MIM-designed parts replaced ones that were machined, and reduced the cost by 30% while manufacturing lead-time was cut in half.

Hardware/Appliance:

An Award of Distinction in the Hardware/Appliance category, for a copper-infiltrated steel bolt used in a commercial door lock system.

The part’s complexity, with its nine levels, rivals that which is more typically seen in parts produced via MIM. The bolt is pressed and sintered to its final shape without any secondary operations. It is estimated to save 60% over the cost of other manufacturing methods.