EPMA Newsletter September 2026

Dear Members, 

As we move into September, anticipation continues to build for Euro PM2026. With only a short time remaining before we meet, I am delighted to share that all the elements are now in place for the congress. Our technical programme is fully prepared, providing an excellent overview of the latest developments in Powder Metallurgy and related technologies. The Special Interest Seminars will once again offer valuable opportunities for discussion, knowledge sharing and networking among colleagues with common interests. The exhibition is completely sold out. Demand has been so high that the EPMA stand has been relocated to accommodate all exhibitors. Our plenary session will feature three distinguished speakers addressing key topics including Europe’s industrial landscape, the strategic importance of rare earths and developments in the aerospace sector, providing valuable insights for all participants. 

Recognition of excellence remains a cornerstone of the congress. This year, we are introducing the Innovation Awards, replacing the former Component Awards to better reflect the breadth of innovation across our industry. Alongside the Sustainability Award, these distinctions will showcase achievements that contribute to both technological progress and environmental responsibility. To further encourage knowledge sharing, shortlisted candidates, in addition to the winners, will have the opportunity to present their work to the Powder Metallurgy community.  

I am also pleased to report that the EPMA continues to strengthen its involvement in European projects. A new initiative, PM EXCEL, has recently been accepted and will likely begin in January 2027. One of its key objectives is the development of dedicated training modules in Powder Metallurgy, helping to prepare the next generation of specialists. At the same time, our ongoing European projects continue to receive highly positive feedback from European stakeholders, who recognise the quality of the work delivered by the EPMA and its partners. 

Another highlight of recent months was the Summer School 2026, which once again proved to be a great success. Bringing together students, researchers and industry professionals, it continues to play an important role in knowledge transfer and skills development within our sector.  

These achievements demonstrate the strength of our community and the value of collaboration across Europe. On behalf of the EPMA, I would like to thank all our members, partners, experts and volunteers for their continued commitment and support. Together, we are advancing Powder Metallurgy technologies, promoting excellence and creating new opportunities for innovation. 

I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter and find it both informative and inspiring. 

Lionel Aboussouan

Euro PM2026 – Only Three Weeks to Go! 

The countdown has begun. 

 The European Powder Metallurgy Association is delighted to welcome the powder metallurgy community to Budapest, Hungary, from 11 to 14 October 2026 for four days of technical exchange, networking and business opportunities. 

Euro PM2026 will bring together researchers, engineers, academics, industry leaders and decision-makers from across the powder metallurgy community and beyond. 

A Rich Technical Programme 

Euro PM2026 will feature a comprehensive technical programme covering the latest developments in powder metallurgy, materials, processing technologies and applications, with more than 200 oral and poster presentations. 

In addition to the technical sessions, participants will be able to attend the Special Interest Seminars (SIS), Sectoral Group Meetings, and the Understanding the Titanium Supply Chain Workshop, taking place on Wednesday 14 October. 

The programme will open on Monday morning with the Plenary Session, featuring three keynote presentations offering insights into some of the key challenges and opportunities ahead for our industry, from additive manufacturing and aerospace applications to quality assurance, European metals policy and the strategic importance of raw materials. 

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from leading experts and gain insights into some of the key challenges and opportunities shaping our sector. 

Explore the full programme 

The PM Forum: At the Heart of the Exhibition 

Located at the heart of the exhibition, the PM Forum will open at 10:45 on Monday 12 October, bringing together more than 60 exhibitors and providing a lively meeting point for the PM community. 

Open to all participants, the PM Forum will feature a rich programme of: Campfire Meetings, Technical Brief presentations, Industry Corner presentations and much more. 

The AIM-NEXT Project presentation will take place at 12:00 on Monday 12 October. 

The PM Forum will also host the Sustainability Awards and Innovation Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements and new developments within our community. 

Discover the latest innovations, meet exhibitors and exchange ideas at the PM Forum! 

Discover the PM Forum programme 

Connecting the PM Community 

Euro PM2026 is about much more than technical presentations. The congress provides numerous opportunities to meet colleagues, develop new collaborations and strengthen professional networks. 

Participants will have the opportunity to join the Welcome Reception, Poster Reception and Congress Dinner, as well as a range of networking activities throughout the event. 

The Young Engineers Days, taking place on 12 and 13 October, will once again provide an excellent opportunity for early-career researchers and engineers to meet, exchange experiences and build their professional networks. 

Join Us in Budapest! 

With only three weeks to go, preparations are well underway and we are looking forward to welcoming the international powder metallurgy community to Budapest. 

We look forward to seeing you at Euro PM2026! 

Register for Euro PM2026 

SSTART had its Final Review MeetingTART had its Final Review MeetingSTART had its Final Review Meeting

The START project concluded its final evaluation meeting on 1 September 2026 at Thermagy in the Netherlands, bringing together consortium partners, the Project Officer and the External Evaluator to review the project’s achievements across the entire value chain, from the recovery of secondary mineral resources to the development of thermoelectric devices.

A key outcome of START was the demonstration that tetrahedrite recovered from mine waste and historical mining residues can be used to produce sustainable, tellurium-free thermoelectric materials for waste heat recovery. The project successfully linked resource valorisation, materials development, device manufacturing and prototype demonstration within a single integrated approach.

The review received very positive feedback, recognising the quality of the consortium’s work and its impact. Beyond the project itself, START leaves a lasting legacy through initiatives such as the START European Thermoelectric Systems (SETS), the Sustainable Thermoelectric Alliance (STA) and the START Technology Marketplace (STM), which will continue to support collaboration, innovation and the uptake of sustainable thermoelectric technologies in Europe.

The group at the START Final Review Meeting in Alkmaar, @Thermagy.

RESQTOOL into the prototyping phase and pushing for the new ISO standard on HM labelling

The Horizon Europe project RESQTOOL, coordinated by EPMA, continues to advance its mission to strengthen the circularity of hardmetals through improved recycling pathways for tungsten and cobalt. Building on the strong technical progress achieved in 2025, the consortium has now entered a phase of intensified validation, scale‑up and stakeholder engagement.

Over the past months, partners have made significant progress in both mechanical and chemical recycling streams. Fraunhofer IKTS and GTP Finland have contributed to the optimisation of the Zinc Reclaim process, while the University of Cagliari has continued scaling up the bio‑based chemical leaching approach, confirming promising recovery yields. These developments support the project’s ambition to enable the production of hardmetal tools containing at least 70% recycled material, without compromising performance. The first prototypes of tools produced from recycled compositions are being produced and tested.

Work on data collection, value‑chain mapping and traceability, led by Irish Manufacturing Research and Seco Tools (Sandvik), has also progressed. The consortium is currently advancing in drafting an ISO standard for hardmetal component labelling, with the support of an external consultant. This initiative is expected to streamline recycling operations and provide clear benefits for manufacturers and recyclers.

In August, the project published a new RESQTOOL Newsletter, summarising technical achievements, partner updates and upcoming milestones. Two free training webinars held in recent months attracted strong participation and are now available online for public viewing. These sessions covered topics such as hardmetal recycling processes, sustainable data collection, and the role of traceability in circularity strategies.

The project continues to engage with the powder metallurgy community. J. Pötschke (Fraunhofer IKTS) presented an update on RESQTOOL at World PM2026 in Montreal on 29 June. At Euro PM2026, the consortium will host a booth and deliver several technical presentations showcasing the latest results.

Johannes Pötschke presenting the key results of the RESQTOOL project on sustainable hardmetal recycling at the WorldPM2026 congress.

The partners met in person again in June 2026, hosted by the University of Cagliari, and it was as usual a great occasion to realign everyone with the progress and decide the next steps, as the project now approaches its final year. The next transnational meeting will take place in Barcelona, hosted by the partner TEMSA, in January 2027. Additional initiatives and training opportunities will be announced soon.

The consortium partners at the 6th Transnational Meeting in Cagliari, June 2026.

For continuous updates, visit www.resqtool.eu or follow RESQTOOL on LinkedIn and X.

REPTiS invites everyone to the Titanium Workshop at Euro PM2026

The Horizon Europe project REPTiS, coordinated by EPMA, has reached a decisive phase in its development, with substantial progress across mining operations, sustainability optimisation, and titanium powder production. Now 25 months into the programme, the consortium is entering a period of intensified technical validation and industrial engagement.

Following the successful mid‑year dissemination activities at EMATEC (a presentation), 3D PRINT Lyon (a booth), and World PM 2026 (a booth and a presentation), REPTiS partners have focused on scaling up the processing of Ukrainian ilmenite samples into low‑oxygen titanium alloy powders. These materials, produced via the Velta Ti Process, are now entering validation stages across powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing technologies. Early batches of powders demonstrate excellent properties, suitable for part fabrication.

Hamid Yousefi (EPMA) and Nizar Bandar (IAMG) presenting the REPTIS project at 3D Print in Lyon (June 2026)

Work has also advanced on the environmental and circularity pillars of the project. Updated datasets confirm the sustained 47% reduction in carbon footprint for ilmenite concentrate production, while partners have expanded the mapping of secondary critical raw materials in tailings and weathered crust fractions.

The second half of 2026 continues to be rich in outreach activities. REPTiS will feature prominently at Euro PM2026 in Budapest, both through a technical presentation in the congress sessions and through the joint EURO‑TITAN–REPTIS–AVANTiS free-of-charge workshop, “Understanding the Titanium Value Chain”, scheduled for 14 October 2026. This event will bring together industrial and research stakeholders to discuss the emerging European titanium ecosystem. Registrations are still open, refer to the website for details and check the full programme in the figure below: please note that a double registration is needed, both for the workshop and to enter EuroPM, at least as an exhibition visitor.

Workshop programme: co-organized by:  EURO-TITAN, REPTiS, and AVANTiS Projects

Further appearances are planned for Raw Materials Week 2026/2027, and preparations have begun for REPTiS contributions to the World Conference on Titanium (Ti‑2027) in Berlin.

The next major coordination event will be the consortium’s fifth Transnational Meeting (TM5), scheduled for 5–6 November 2026 and hosted by University West in Trollhättan, Sweden. This meeting will focus on:

• reviewing the latest powder production results,
• aligning the validation activities for industrial case studies,
• and preparing the next set of deliverables for the European Commission.

A highlight of TM5 will be a technical visit to GKN Aerospace’s production and research facility, offering partners the opportunity to connect REPTiS powder development with real industrial component manufacturing environments.

For continuous updates, visit www.reptis.eu and follow REPTIS on LinkedIn and X.

PMEXCEL studies the educational needs of the European powder metallurgy sector

A new EU funded project by Erasmus+ programme is launched with a kick-off meeting on the dates of 12-13 May at EPMA offices in Chantilly. The PMEXCEL project consortium consists of 12 partners, where the coordination will be done by EPMA for a duration of 4 years. 

The PMEXCEL project, funded under the Erasmus+ programme and coordinated by EPMA, officially began its activities with the successful kick‑off meeting held on 12–13 May at EPMA’s offices in Chantilly. This first gathering marked the start of an ambitious collaboration between partners from Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain and Türkiye, united by the shared objective of strengthening skills, innovation and sustainability within the PM sector.

Building on the momentum of the kick‑off, the consortium has now entered the operational phase of the project. One of the earliest deliverables, scheduled for publication in September, focuses on identifying the State of the Art of the PM industry in Europe. This document will serve as a key reference for the sector, providing an updated overview of technological trends, skill needs and industrial challenges. A dedicated video will accompany the publication to support wider dissemination and engagement.

PMEXCEL will be present with a booth at Euro PM2026 in Budapest, where the project will be introduced to the broader PM community. In December 2026, the project will launch its first P&R Day, hosted by the Marie Curie High School of Nogent-sur-Oise (France), one of the PMEXCEL partners. Supported by EPMA, this event will foster the crucial connection between students, who represent the future workforce of the PM industry, and industrial stakeholders. The initiative aims to promote the values and commitments set out by the European Commission, particularly regarding skills development, inclusion and the green and digital transitions.

In early December, the consortium will also meet again for its second in‑person transnational meeting, hosted by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona. Partners will use this opportunity to exchange ideas, refine the upcoming work plans and continue building the strong collaborative spirit that characterises the project.

With these first milestones underway, PMEXCEL is steadily advancing toward its long‑term goal: developing an EU‑accredited e‑learning platform based on Micro‑Credentials, addressing sectoral skills gaps, and supporting both young learners and the current workforce in acquiring the competences needed for a climate‑neutral, circular and innovation‑driven PM industry.

Stay tuned and follow us!

EPMA Website – project updates and official announcements

LinkedIn page – news, events and project highlights

PMEXCEL Project Page – dedicated information, deliverables and media content – www.pmexcel.eu

EPMA for new projects 

During 2025 and throughout 2026, EPMA has remained actively engaged in the preparation and submission of Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ proposals, working closely with members and partners to secure new funding opportunities for research, innovation and skills development in powder metallurgy and critical raw materials.

These efforts are steadily delivering results. EPMA has participated in several project proposals and expects to be involved in additional initiatives during the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. In parallel, the Association successfully secured funding for PMEXCEL, a new Erasmus+ project focused on strengthening education, training and skills development for the European powder metallurgy sector, and more is already coming in the next months (but we cannot disclose the information yet).

Looking ahead, EPMA’s technical team continues to monitor upcoming funding opportunities and develop new project ideas. Members preparing proposals are encouraged to engage with EPMA at an early stage, as the Association can provide valuable support in areas such as project development, coordination, dissemination and communication.

Interested in EU-funded projects and collaboration opportunities? Join EPMA’s dedicated Campfire Meeting on “EU Projects Support by EPMA” at Euro PM2026, taking place on Monday, 12 October, from 15:20 to 15:50 in Room F9.

The session will provide an overview of how EPMA supports Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and other collaborative initiatives, offering practical information on proposal development, consortium building and project participation. It will also be an opportunity to discuss new project ideas, identify potential partners and explore future funding opportunities.

Whether you are looking to launch a new project concept or join an existing consortium, we encourage you to take part in the discussion and discover how EPMA can help turn innovative ideas into successful collaborative projects.

In general, to explore potential collaboration opportunities, please contact Kenan Boz (kboz@epma.com) or Bruno Vicenzi (bv@epma.com). As always, successful proposals start with a strong project concept and a committed consortium ready to turn that vision into reality.

A Special Interest Seminar will be held by the EuroAM Group in Budapest on a very interesting subject: Use of Artificial Intelligence in AM. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Additive Manufacturing (AM) is redefining the way materials, processes and products are designed, optimised and deployed. Different topics from the aspects of sustainability, Industry 4.0 and 5.0, and material innovations will be investigated together with interactive discussions throughout the session.

The Functional Materials Group has continued its preparations for Euro PM2026, with an exciting programme taking shape for both the group meeting and the dedicated Special Interest Seminar.

This year’s Special Interest Seminar will once again focus on magnetic materials, but in a new and more interactive format. Instead of a series of presentations, the session will take the form of a panel discussion entitled “The Future of Magnetic Materials for Electric Motors”, scheduled for Tuesday, 13 October, from 16:00 to 17:30.

Moderated by Dr José Manuel Martín Garcia (CEIT), the discussion will explore the future of both permanent and soft magnetic materials in Europe, their role in electric drives, and the perspectives of downstream stakeholders. The panel will bring together experts from across the value chain, including research, rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing:

• Dr Dominik Ohmer (VACUUMSCHMELZE GmbH & Co. KG)
• Mr Miša Milosavljević (IFP Energies Nouvelles)
• Mr Matej Zaplotnik (Magneti Ljubljana d.d.)
• Dr Lama Itani (Solvay)

The annual Functional Materials Group meeting will take place earlier the same day, from 13:45 to 15:15, and, as always, will be open to all EuroPM delegates. In addition to an update on EPMA activities in the field of Functional Materials, the programme will include two technical presentations:

• Metal Magnets: Enabling Permanent Magnetic Solutions Where Conventional Magnets Fail
  A. Fais, EPoS Technologies SA
• PERMANET: Achievements on Building a European Supply Chain of Rare Earth Magnets
  L. Itani, Solvay

The meeting welcomes participants from both industry and academia and provides an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss the latest developments in functional materials.

In addition, the Functional Materials Group is continuing to collect contributions for the second edition of the brochure “Introduction to Functional Materials”. Members interested in contributing case studies are encouraged to contact Bruno Vicenzi, including during Euro PM2026.

EuroHM group is welcoming an important guest at EuroPM in Budapest. Dr. Burghard Zeiler, the General Secretary of International Tungsten Industries association (ITIA) will make an important speech at the group meeting on 14 October. The title of his speech will be “The Tungsten Market: Demand, Supply, and Emerging Applications”. To fully appreciate tungsten’s industrial impact, this analysis will examine its end-use sectors in detail. In-depth knowledge of the end-use is crucial to understanding the demand development. The supply side will also be explored, covering both primary production from mining and circularity focused secondary supply. Finally, recent developments and emerging applications for tungsten in new areas will be highlighted.

Dr. B. Zeiler, Secretary of International Tungsten Industries Association (ITIA)

The EuroMIM Group is finalising an engaging programme for Euro PM2026 in Budapest, featuring both its annual open group meeting and a dedicated Special Interest Seminar.

The EuroMIM Group Meeting will take place on Tuesday, 13 October, from 08:30 to 10:00 and, as always, will be open to all Euro PM participants. The session will include presentations of the latest MIM Trend and Statistics Surveys, providing an overview of developments in the European Metal Injection Moulding market.

A key feature of the meeting will be a panel discussion on “Opportunities for the Development of MIM in Europe”, moderated by F. Petzoldt (Ingenieurbüro Dr. Petzoldt). The panel will bring together representatives from across the MIM value chain, including:

• Cristina Berges (Blesol Tech)
• Paul Davies (Wall Colmonoy)
• Marko Maetzig (Arburg)
• Kristof Bronckers (Vibrom)
• Alan Bird (Advanced Forming Technology)
• Matteo Perina (Mimest Srl)

Additional panellists will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Later the same day, from 10:45 to 12:15, the Special Interest Seminar will take place again under the title “Navigating Strategic Opportunities and Challenges in MIM”. This year’s seminar will focus on the experiences and perspectives of European MIM producers, including companies active in the defence sector and, fittingly for the Budapest venue, representatives from Eastern Europe. The programme includes:

• MIM Challenges in Defence
  Kristof Bronckers, Vibrom spol. s r.o.
• How to Best Fit Materials to a MIM Project
  Alan Bird, Advanced Forming Technology
• Sharing Our Experience on MIM Large Parts Realisation in the Defence Sector
  Dr-Ing. Matteo Perina, MIMEST Srl.

Beyond the conference sessions, the EuroMIM Group is also working on a series of short videos aimed at raising awareness of Metal Injection Moulding and its applications. In parallel, work is underway on an updated edition of the brochure “Introduction to MIM”.

To support this initiative, the group is looking for new MIM case studies that showcase successful applications and innovations. Members interested in contributing material are encouraged to contact Bruno Vicenzi, including during Euro PM2026.

The Press & Sinter Benchmarking Programme has been successfully completed, and the results are currently being distributed to participating companies. This members-only activity continues to provide valuable insights into the performance and competitiveness of the European press-and-sinter industry. Companies interested in participating in the next edition are encouraged to follow EPMA communications for future announcements.

In addition to supporting the automotive seminar “Gearing Up for the Future: PM Breakthroughs in Automotive Engineering”, held in June during the 3D Print Lyon event, the EuroPress&Sinter Group has been actively preparing its programme for Euro PM2026 in Budapest.

The group’s open meeting will take place on Wednesday, 14 October, from 08:30 to 10:00, and all congress participants are welcome to attend. Alongside updates on group activities and the latest results from the industry statistics and trend surveys, the meeting will focus on the increasingly important topic of stress corrosion cracking. In fact, the session will feature a presentation entitled:

• Stress Corrosion Cracking: Mechanisms and Prevention Strategies
  Markus Schneider-Dauch, GKN Powder Metallurgy

The presentation will be followed by an open discussion, providing participants with the opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives on this important challenge.

Following the coffee break, from 10:45 to 12:15, the Press & Sinter Special Interest Seminar will explore the theme “Chasing Higher Performance for Press & Sinter Parts”.

Taking a highly interactive approach, the seminar will consist of three expert panel discussions, each addressing a key stage of the press-and-sinter process chain:

Alloys and Powders

• Kylan McQuaig (Hoeganaes Corporation)
• Dr Dimitris Chasoglou (Höganäs AB)
• Alberto Prete (Pometon S.p.A.)

Pressing Technologies

• Enrico Pasini (SACMI)
• Christian Müller (Dorst Technologies)

Parts Manufacturing

• Dr-Ing. Markus Schneider (GKN Powder Metallurgy)
• Dr Mark Dougan (AMES)
• Dr-Ing. Oliver Schenk (RWTH Aachen University)

The discussions will examine how press-and-sinter components can achieve higher performance through innovations in materials, powder technology, compaction, sintering, and manufacturing processes, while remaining competitive in an evolving manufacturing landscape.

With leading experts representing powder production, equipment manufacturing, component production and research, the seminar promises to provide valuable insights into the future development of press-and-sinter technology.

We look forward to welcoming you to the EuroPress&Sinter sessions in Budapest!

The EHQS meeting at Budapest will host presentations and discussions around an important topic as “Waste Management in Powder Metallurgy”, together with an informative talk on CBAM (Carbon border Adjustment Mechanism). The CBAM is a regulatory tool that puts a fair carbon price on carbon-intensive goods imported into the European Union. It acts as a carbon tariff on specific carbon-intensive goods entering the European Union. The primary objective is to stop “carbon leakage,” which occurs when EU-based manufacturers move production to countries with looser environmental laws to avoid the costs of the EU Emissions Trading System. This presentation will be held on 14^th October, Wednesday in Budapest.

Members of the European Powder Metallurgy Institute (EPMI) have once again played an active role in the organisation of Euro PM, contributing to the work of the Technical Programme Committee and supporting the continued development of Technical Briefs, an initiative that was successfully introduced at Euro PM2025 in Glasgow.

Education remains another important area of activity for the group. In July, experts from EPMI contributed as lecturers to the latest EPMA Summer School, which was hosted in Porto and brought together students and professionals from across the powder metallurgy community. EPMI members are also supporting the next edition of the Summer School, which will take place in Vienna.

Looking ahead, EPMI will continue to advise and contribute to a range of EPMA activities, particularly in the areas of the Euro PM technical programme, educational initiatives and collaborative research. This includes supporting the new PMEXCEL Erasmus+ project, which aims to strengthen powder metallurgy education and skills development across Europe.

The group will also continue to contribute to the ongoing mapping of powder metallurgy research and development activities across Europe. This initiative provides valuable insights into current capabilities and emerging trends, helping to identify future research needs and foster stronger collaboration between industry and academia.

Through these activities, EPMI remains committed to supporting innovation, knowledge transfer and the long-term development of the European powder metallurgy community.

Automotive Seminar 2026 

The automotive sector is entering a new phase, driven by electrification, lightweighting and sustainability requirements, where advanced manufacturing solutions are essential. Powder Metallurgy (PM) is well positioned to support this transition, offering high-performance components, material efficiency and the flexibility needed for next-generation vehicles.

The EPMA Automotive Application Seminar, “Gearing Up for the Future: PM Breakthroughs in Automotive Engineering”, was successfully held in Lyon on 3–4 June 2026 alongside the 3D Print Lyon exhibition. The event brought together speakers and participants from across Europe representing industry, research organisations and technology providers.

The programme covered a broad range of topics including PM solutions for e-drive transmission systems, advanced magnetic materials for electric vehicles, surface engineering for EURO-7 compliance, additive manufacturing of automotive components, tooling innovations, and industrialisation challenges for next-generation manufacturing technologies. A lively panel discussion concluded the seminar, bringing together experts from across the automotive value chain to discuss future opportunities and barriers for the wider adoption of PM and AM in automotive applications.

Feedback received from participants was highly positive. The quality of speakers and technical content were consistently rated among the strongest aspects of the event. Attendees particularly appreciated the diversity of topics ranging from electric drive systems and permanent magnets to additive manufacturing materials and qualification approaches. Networking opportunities were also highlighted as a key reason for attending.

As part of the 3D Print Lyon exhibition, the seminar benefited from the presence of a wider additive manufacturing audience, creating valuable opportunities for exchanges between the PM and AM communities. Several respondents discovered the seminar through LinkedIn and EPMA communication channels, reflecting the growing visibility of PM applications in the automotive sector.

Group photo of the participants during the Automotive Application Seminar 2026

Energy seminar 2026 

Alongside automotive and other rapidly developing application sectors, energy continues to be one of the most strategically important markets for Powder Metallurgy. As energy systems evolve towards cleaner, more efficient and more resilient solutions, PM technologies are playing an increasingly important role in enabling high-performance components for demanding applications.

The EPMA Energy Application Seminar, “Powering the Future: Powder Metallurgy for Advanced Energy Solutions”, took place in Lyon on 2–3 June 2026, also alongside the 3D Print Lyon exhibition. The event gathered experts from leading industrial companies, research centres and technology suppliers to exchange knowledge on the latest developments in PM and advanced manufacturing for energy applications.

Presentations covered PM-HIP technologies, advanced materials, qualification strategies, digitalisation, additive manufacturing, powder production and sustainability. Nuclear and fusion applications generated particularly strong interest among participants, with several speakers presenting developments related to critical energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing routes for safety-critical components.

The seminar concluded with a panel discussion addressing the role of Powder Metallurgy and Additive Manufacturing in delivering reliable and sustainable energy systems. Discussions focused on industrialisation, qualification challenges, material performance and the growing importance of advanced manufacturing technologies in strengthening European technological sovereignty.

Participant feedback confirmed the high value of the programme. Technical content, speaker quality and overall organisation received particularly strong ratings. Nuclear applications, PM-HIP technologies and additive manufacturing for energy systems were among the most appreciated topics. Networking opportunities were again cited as a major benefit of the event.

The principal area identified for improvement concerned the seminar environment within the exhibition hall, where some attendees reported difficulties caused by surrounding exhibition noise. Nevertheless, respondents overwhelmingly indicated that they would recommend future editions of the seminar to colleagues, confirming the strong relevance of application-focused PM events.

The successful organisation of both seminars alongside 3D Print Lyon demonstrated the value of bringing together the Powder Metallurgy and Additive Manufacturing communities, creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration and industrial networking.

 Participants and speakers during the Energy Application Seminar 2026

EPMA Summer School

From 19 to 24 July 2026, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal, hosted the 24th edition of the Powder Metallurgy Summer School, bringing together 65 participants for five days of learning, practical work and networking.

The programme was coordinated by Dr Christian Gierl-Mayer (TU Wien, Austria) and Dr Marco Actis-Grande (Politecnico di Torino, Italy), with lectures delivered by experts from academia and industry. Topics included Additive Manufacturing, Hard Materials, HIP, MIM, Thermoelectric Materials and Sustainability, reflecting current developments and industrial needs in Powder Metallurgy.

Alongside the lectures, participants took part in group problem-solving sessions, hands-on laboratory work at FEUP and industrial visits. Three groups visited Palbit, Durit and INEGI, giving participants the opportunity to discover different industrial and research environments and see Powder Metallurgy applications in practice.

The social programme also provided opportunities for participants and lecturers to connect, with the Welcome Reception at By The Wine and the traditional Networking Dinner at Herdade 1980.

The 24th Summer School once again combined technical knowledge, practical experience and networking opportunities for young professionals and newcomers to the PM industry.

Preparations for the next edition are already underway. The 25th Powder Metallurgy Summer School will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 4 to 9 July 2027, with applications opening in January 2027. More information: summerschool.epma.com