Metal Powders

US demand for metal powder will be driven by rising output in several key industries, as well as better cost-to-performance ratios for parts, lower waste and closer tolerance components.

US demand to grow 6.2% annually through 2015

Demand for metal powder in the US is projected to grow 6.2 percent annually to 1.4 billion pounds in 2015, valued at $4.8 billion. Increased output in several key industries -- including motor vehicles, batteries and electrical equipment, and machinery manufacturing -- will be the primary drivers of growth. In addition, improved cost-to-performance ratios for parts, along with lower waste and closer tolerance components, will continue to entice manufacturers to switch production of many parts to press and sinter techniques. In additive and catalyst applications, metal powders also offer a variety of performance enhancements.

Ferrous powders to outpace nonferrous in volume terms

Ferrous powders accounted for 62 percent of the metal powder market total by volume in 2010, and demand is projected to rise 6.6 percent per year to 914 million pounds in 2015. Iron and steel, and stainless steel powders are used in a variety of applications, including automotive parts, chemical additives and components in machinery. Nonferrous powders encompass a much wider variety of metals, including base metals such as aluminum, zinc, cobalt, tungsten and tantalum, as well as silver, gold and platinum group metals. Nonferrous powder sales are expected to climb 5.6 percent annually to 531 million pounds in 2015, slower than demand for ferrous powders. While nonferrous metals held only 38 percent of the 2010 market by volume, they accounted for 80 percent of total market value.

Motor vehicles to remain dominant market by volume

In 2010, an average of 53 pounds of metal powders were used in every motor vehicle made in the US. Metal powders are used in every major system in automobiles, and as vehicle production in the US rebounds, metal powder usage will increase as well. US machinery manufacturing relies on high quality and technological superiority over foreign competition, meaning parts used in production are complex and difficult to make. Metal powders allow the costeffective production of many of these parts. Computers and electronics manufacturers use the smallest amount of metal powders by volume, but are the largest dollar value market. Producers use high value metal powders (such as tantalum and precious metals) manufactured to tight tolerances, which elevates the value of the powders.

Electrical equipment made with metal powders includes primary batteries, electric motor brushes and appliance parts. Battery sales will see the strongest growth, as the US ramps up production to feed growing world demand. A number of other markets -- including chemicals, and aerospace and other transportation equipment -- also depend on metal powders for complex components with very specific materials properties.

Study Scope

This study analyzes the $3.4 billion US metal powders industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010, and forecasts for 2015 and 2020 by type (e.g., iron and steel, stainless steel, zinc, aluminum, magnesium, copper, tungsten, nickel, cobalt), application (e.g., components) and market (e.g., motor vehicles, machinery, batteries and electrical equipment, chemical products).

The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 38 industry players, including GKN, Allegheny Technologies and Höganäs.

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  1. Metal Powders

    $4,900.00

    1. 1 INTRODUCTION

      $323.00

    2. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

      $323.00

      1. Table | Metal Powder Demand (million dollars)

    3. 3 MARKET ENVIRONMENT

      $2,076.00

      1. 3.1 General

        $323.00

      2. 3.2 Macroeconomic Environment

        $323.00

        1. Table | Macroeconomic Indicators (billion 2005 dollars)

      3. 3.3 Manufacturing Outlook

        $323.00

        1. Table | Manufacturers' Shipments (billion dollars)

      4. 3.4 Motor Vehicle Outlook

        $323.00

        1. Table | Motor Vehicle Indicators

      5. 3.5 Nonresidential Fixed Investment Outlook

        $323.00

        1. Table | Nonresidential Fixed Investment Expenditures (billion 2005 dollars)

      6. 3.6 Regulatory Environment

        $323.00

      7. 3.7 Historical Market Trends

        $323.00

        1. Table | Metal Powder Market, 2000-2010

      8. 3.8 Pricing

        $323.00

        1. Table | Selected Metal Powder Prices (dollars per pound)

      9. 3.9 International Environment

        $742.00

        1. 3.9.1 World Metal Powder Market

          $323.00

          1. Table | World Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

        2. 3.9.2 US Trade in Metal Powders

          $495.00

          1. Table | US Trade in Metal Powders (million pounds)

          2. Table | US Trade in Ferrous Metal Powders (million pounds)

          3. Table | US Trade in Nonferrous Metal Powders (million pounds)

    4. 4 TECHNOLOGY & COMPETING PRODUCTS

      $1,630.00

      1. 4.1 General

        $323.00

      2. 4.2 Powdered Metal Technology

        $1,107.00

        1. 4.2.1 Powder Production

          $323.00

        2. 4.2.2 Powder Applications

          $416.00

        3. 4.2.3 Nanotechnology

          $323.00

      3. 4.3 Competitive Products

        $460.00

        1. 4.3.1 Cast Metals

          $323.00

        2. 4.3.2 Forged Metals

          $323.00

        3. 4.3.3 Plastics

          $323.00

    5. 5 METAL POWDERS

      $3,413.00

      1. 5.1 General

        $323.00

        1. Table | Metal Powder Demand

      2. 5.2 Ferrous Metals

        $498.00

        1. Table | Ferrous Metal Powder Demand

        2. 5.2.1 Iron & Steel

          $323.00

          1. Table | Iron & Steel Powder Demand by Market (million pounds)

        3. 5.2.2 Stainless Steel

          $323.00

          1. Table | Stainless Steel Powder Demand by Market (million pounds)

      3. 5.3 Nonferrous Metals

        $2,782.00

        1. 5.3.1 Nonferrous Metal Market Value

          $323.00

          1. Table | Nonferrous Metal Powder Value Demand (million dollars)

        2. 5.3.2 Nonferrous Metal Market Volume

          $323.00

          1. Table | Nonferrous Metal Powder Volume Demand (million pounds)

        3. 5.3.3 Zinc

          $323.00

          1. Table | Zinc Powder Demand by Market (million pounds)

        4. 5.3.4 Aluminum

          $323.00

          1. Table | Aluminum Powder Demand by Market (million pounds)

        5. 5.3.5 Magnesium

          $323.00

          1. Table | Magnesium Powder Demand by Market

        6. 5.3.6 Copper & Copper-Based Metals

          $323.00

          1. Table | Copper & Copper-Based Metal Powder Demand by Market (million pounds)

        7. 5.3.7 Tungsten

          $323.00

          1. Table | Tungsten Powder Demand by Market (million pounds)

        8. 5.3.8 Nickel

          $323.00

          1. Table | Nickel Powder Demand by Market (million pounds)

        9. 5.3.9 Cobalt

          $323.00

          1. Table | Cobalt Powder Demand by Market

        10. 5.3.10 Molybdenum

          $323.00

          1. Table | Molybdenum Powder Demand by Market

        11. 5.3.11 Precious Metals

          $685.00

          1. Table | Precious Metal Powder Demand

          2. Table | Silver Powder Demand

          3. Table | Platinum Group Metal Powder Demand

          4. Table | Gold Powder Demand

        12. 5.3.12 Tantalum

          $323.00

          1. Table | Tantalum Powder Demand

        13. 5.3.13 Other Nonferrous Metals

          $323.00

          1. Table | Other Nonferrous Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

    6. 6 APPLICATIONS

      $1,032.00

      1. 6.1 General

        $323.00

        1. Table | Markets for Metal Powders by Application

      2. 6.2 Metal Powder Demand

        $976.00

        1. Table | Metal Powder Demand by Application

        2. 6.2.1 Metal Powders in Components

          $588.00

          1. Table | Metal Powder Demand in Components (million dollars)

        3. 6.2.2 Other Applications for Metal Powders

          $323.00

          1. Table | Metal Powder Demand in Other Applications (million dollars)

    7. 7 MARKETS

      $3,777.00

      1. 7.1 General

        $323.00

      2. 7.2 Metal Powder Value Demand

        $323.00

        1. Table | Metal Powder Value Demand by Market (million dollars)

      3. 7.3 Metal Powder Volume Demand

        $323.00

        1. Table | Metal Powder Volume Demand by Market (million pounds)

      4. 7.4 Motor Vehicles

        $1,055.00

        1. Table | Motor Vehicle Metal Powder Demand by Material & System (million pounds)

        2. 7.4.1 Demand by Material

          $323.00

        3. 7.4.2 Demand by System

          $851.00

          1. Table | Motor Vehicle Engine & Drivetrain Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

          2. Table | Motor Vehicle Transmission Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

          3. Table | Body & Chassis Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

          4. Table | Braking System Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

          5. Table | Exhaust System Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

          6. Table | Other System Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

      5. 7.5 Machinery

        $371.00

        1. 7.5.1 Industry Outlook

          $323.00

          1. Table | Machinery Manufacturing Shipments by Type (billion 2005 dollars)

        2. 7.5.2 Metal Powder Demand

          $323.00

          1. Table | Machinery Equipment Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

      6. 7.6 Batteries & Electrical Equipment

        $494.00

        1. 7.6.1 Industry Outlook

          $323.00

          1. Table | Electrical Equipment & Appliance Shipments (billion 2005 dollars)

        2. 7.6.2 Metal Powder Demand

          $323.00

          1. Table | Battery & Electrical Equipment Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

      7. 7.7 Chemical & Related Products

        $533.00

        1. 7.7.1 Industry Outlook

          $323.00

          1. Table | Chemical & Related Product Shipments by Type (billion 2005 dollars)

        2. 7.7.2 Metal Powder Demand

          $364.00

          1. Table | Chemical & Related Metal Powder Demand by Material & Market (million pounds)

          2. Table | Chemical & Petroleum Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

          3. Table | Paint, Coating & Pigment Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

      8. 7.8 Aerospace & Other Transportation Equipment

        $323.00

        1. 7.8.1 Industry Outlook

          $323.00

          1. Table | Aerospace & Other Transportation Equipment Shipments (billion 2005 dollars)

        2. 7.8.2 Metal Powder Demand

          $323.00

          1. Table | Aerospace & Other Transportation Equipment Metal Powder Demand (million pounds)

      9. 7.9 Computer & Electronic Equipment

        $352.00

        1. 7.9.1 Industry Outlook

          $323.00

          1. Table | Computer & Other Electronic Component Shipments (billion dollars)

        2. 7.9.2 Metal Powder Demand

          $323.00

          1. Table | Computer & Other Electronic Equipment Metal Powder Demand (million dollars)

      10. 7.10 Other Markets

        $372.00

        1. Table | Other Markets for Metal Powders by Material & Market (million pounds)

        2. 7.10.1 Tools & Hardware

          $323.00

        3. 7.10.2 Medical

          $323.00

        4. 7.10.3 All Other

          $323.00

    8. 8 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

      $4,931.00

      1. 8.1 General

        $323.00

      2. 8.2 Industry Composition

        $323.00

        1. Table | US Metal Powder Sales by Company, 2010 (million dollars)

      3. 8.3 Market Share

        $356.00

      4. 8.4 Mergers, Acquisitions & Industry Restructuring

        $323.00

        1. Table | Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures

      5. 8.5 Manufacturing

        $323.00

      6. 8.6 Marketing & Distribution

        $323.00

      7. 8.7 Cooperative Agreements

        $323.00

        1. Table | Selected Cooperative Agreements

      8. 8.8 Company Profiles

        $4,039.00

        1. 8.8.1 ACuPowder International LLC

          $323.00

        2. 8.8.2 Alcoa Incorporated

          $323.00

        3. 8.8.3 Allegheny Technologies Incorporated

          $323.00

        4. 8.8.4 ALTANA AG

          $323.00

        5. 8.8.5 American Chemet Corporation

          $323.00

        6. 8.8.6 AMETEK Incorporated

          $323.00

        7. 8.8.7 Ashland Incorporated

          $323.00

        8. 8.8.8 BASF SE

          $323.00

        9. 8.8.9 Cabot Corporation

          $323.00

        10. 8.8.10 Carpenter Technology Corporation

          $323.00

        11. 8.8.11 Companhia Vale do Rio Doce

          $323.00

        12. 8.8.12 Eramet SA

          $323.00

        13. 8.8.13 Ferro Corporation

          $323.00

        14. 8.8.14 GKN plc

          $323.00

        15. 8.8.15 HC Starck GmbH

          $323.00

        16. 8.8.16 Höganäs AB

          $323.00

        17. 8.8.17 Horsehead Holding Corporation

          $323.00

        18. 8.8.18 JFE Holdings Incorporated

          $323.00

        19. 8.8.19 Johnson Matthey plc

          $323.00

        20. 8.8.20 Kennametal Incorporated

          $323.00

        21. 8.8.21 Kobe Steel Limited

          $323.00

        22. 8.8.22 Metalor Technologies International SA

          $323.00

        23. 8.8.23 Mining and Metallurgical Company Norilsk Nickel

          $323.00

        24. 8.8.24 OM Group Incorporated

          $323.00

        25. 8.8.25 PALM International Incorporated

          $323.00

        26. 8.8.26 Plansee Holding AG

          $323.00

        27. 8.8.27 Pulse Electronics Corporation

          $323.00

        28. 8.8.28 Rio Tinto Group

          $323.00

        29. 8.8.29 SCM Metal Products Incorporated

          $323.00

        30. 8.8.30 Sherritt International Corporation

          $323.00

        31. 8.8.31 Technic Incorporated

          $323.00

        32. 8.8.32 Teck Resources Limited

          $323.00

        33. 8.8.33 Umicore NV/SA

          $323.00

        34. 8.8.34 United Technologies Corporation

          $323.00

        35. 8.8.35 US Metal Powders Incorporated

          $323.00

        36. 8.8.36 Valimet Incorporated

          $323.00

        37. 8.8.37 Votorantim Participações SA

          $323.00

        38. 8.8.38 Xstrata plc

          $323.00

      9. 8.9 Other Companies Mentioned in the Study

        $323.00

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