EPMA - Working to Promote PM

The European Powdered Metallurgy Association (EPMA) was formed in Brussels in 1989, and has three key missions-

• To Promote and Develop PM Technology in Europe.

• To Represent the European PM Industry within Europe and Internationally.

• To Develop the Future of PM

These are achieved using a variety of means, a selection of which are described below. We at the EPMA serve all types of member organisations, from component, metal powder, and equipment producers to end-users, research centres, universities, and individuals who have an interest in PM.

Technology Promotion:
EPMA has one of the worlds most significant PM related Web sites, this along with the distribution of well over 15,000 copies of our popular free booklet 'Introduction to PM', videos, lecture series and posters is one of the many ways that the EPMA promotes our technology. Combine this with the EPMA's 'End-user' seminars, Exhibitions, Editorial Features, and PM Showcases, and it is clear that the EPMA is at the forefront of PM technology promotion.

Conferences, Intensive Short Courses, Summer Schools:
Conferences, Intensive Short Courses. The EPMA is responsible for organising the annual series of EURO PM Conferences along with all PM World Congresses in Europe. Intensive Short Courses are regulalry organised throughout Europe, topics covered include: Powder Compaction, Sintering, Metal Injection Moulding, Hard Materials and Design of High Performance PM Components. We also run with support form the EU a series of annual Summer Schools designed for graduates who are working in the PM sector.

Statistics:
The collection and dissemination of PM industry statistics is a key EPMA service. Contributing members receive figures relating to their industry sector, along with statistics reports providing detailed analyses of the European PM industry, combined with reviews of global trends and figures from end-user industries.

Publications:
The EPMA provides the European PM community with the opportunity to purchase a wide range of international PM publications. A complete listing, with prices for Members and Non-Members and an online order form, can be found under our main Publications page.

Keeping you in Touch:
A regularly updated list of future events can be found in our PM Diary on the Members Area of the Web site. Also available only to members on the site are regular news reports from the industry, links to relevant PM sites and a handy directory of freeware and shareware.

EPMA News, the Associations popular newsletter, contains up-to-date reports on EPMA activities, industry news, and international events. Members are also kept informed of forthcoming courses, seminars, and conferences through mailings and via the web site with on line registration available.

Education & Training:
The EPMA has long recognised the need to provide education and training material for use in Universities, the PM industry, and end-user industries. As well as providing a range of free material, the EPMA has produced an educational CD Rom which is available for a small fee and two lecture series (used in over 25 counties) on 'PM Components' and 'Powder Metallurgy of Hardmetals'.

PM Research:
As part of the EU 5th Framework Programme, the EPMA has is managing a Thematic Network on PM Process Modelling (DIENET). The focus of this network is the computer modelling of the powder compaction and sintering steps of the PM process, and will bring PM in line with other metal forming technologies. A PM Property Database is also being created by the EPMA as part of a club project of EPMA members. Other current research programmes/networks being managed by EPMA are described in the relevant section of the web site.

Quality Assurance:
Following the publication of the 44 page "Quality Assurance Guidelines for Structural PM Parts and Porous Bearings", the EPMA's QA Group has now diversified its work to include powder and equipment producers. New points of focus are: evaluation of NDT methods, PM process modelling, and production of defect free green compacts, to name just a few.

Environmental Health & Safety:
As the only pan-European PM trade association, the EPMA makes full use of its prime position to lobby on behalf of the PM industry within Brussels. Through the "EPMA Guide to EU Legislation and 'Health & Safety' in the European PM Industry" the EPMA helps to keep all those producing, using, or handling metal powders aware of their legal obligations while functioning within the European Economic Area. The EPMA has a working group of qualified medical and environmental specialists which monitors legislation and represents the interests of EPMA members on key European committees.

Standards:
The EPMA provides a unified European voice in the development of ISO Standards on PM, and the conversion of existing ISO Standards to European Standards (EN) through the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). A large number of ISO PM Standards have already been converted. Key future work includes the EPMA's new EU funded 'Thematic Network for European Standards for Metal Injection Moulded Materials and Products'.