MPIF announces Automotive Category winners in 2020 PM Design Excellence Awards
July 16, 2020
The Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) has announced the winners in the Automotive Category of its 2020 Powder Metallurgy Design Excellence Awards. All winners will be announced over the next two weeks, with winners in the Special Technologies segment due to be revealed on July 23, and winners in the Consumer Goods segment on July 30, 2020.
“Innovation is at the hub of Powder Metallurgy manufacturing advancements in the automotive market,” said the MPIF in an official statement on the winners. “PM materials and consolidation processes are utilised to support the most demanding applications. Transmissions, engines, and chassis rely on performance components to provide durability and consistency. Congratulations to this year’s automotive winners!”
Grand prizes
Automotive—Engine Category for Conventional PM
The grand prize in this category has been awarded to Porite Taiwan Co. Ltd. and its customer Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, for a VVT sprocket used in a new-generation E-VVT design that integrates a sprocket with the stator. The function of the internal rotor is provided by the gearbox.
Automotive—Transmission Category for Conventional PM
The grand prize in this category was awarded to PMG Indiana Corporation for a torque converter one-way clutch stator assembly used in an 8-speed transmission made for FCA US LLC. In the locked position, the part is subjected to a 350 Nm torque, and traditionally the races are manufactured from wrought steel, or powder forged and case hardened to handle the high stress.
Automotive—Transmission Category for MIM
Phillips-Medisize – Metal Injection Molding won in this category for an actuator arm supplied to Means Industries and used in a 9-speed forward transmission assembly for General Motors and Ford Motor Company. The actuator arm is part of a Means-patented selectable one-way clutch that replaces the reverse clutch.
Awards of distinction
Automotive—Engine Category for Conventional PM
Nichols Portland LLC received an award of distinction in this category for a variable displacement vane-pump rotor used in an automotive engine lubrication system. The three-level part is said to possess numerous critical tolerance features achieved with minimal secondary operations.
A second award of distinction was given in this category to MPP for a high-strength camshaft-bearing cap. The part is made using a PM aluminium-copper-magnesium alloy. The machinability of the PM aluminium alloy closely matches that of the cast aluminium heads, permitting consistent line boring prior to installation of the camshaft.
Automotive—Engine Category for MIM
Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd. was recognised with an award of distinction in this category for three min-flow setting devices used in the turbocharger of a four-wheeler vehicle. The parts are made using MIM-316L and replaced components that were machined in multiple steps.
Automotive—Transmission Category for Conventional PM
An award of distinction was made to Allied Sinterings Inc. in this category for a sear pin assembly. The part is used in a shift-by-wire automotive transmission actuator that causes an output shaft to rotate the sear pin, allowing a pawl to engage a default-to-park during a catastrophic transmission failure.
Automotive—Transmission Category for MIM
In this category, Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd. received a second award of distinction for a park lock lever manual override used in a vehicle handbrake.
Automotive—Chassis Category for MIM
Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd. also received an award of distinction in this category, for left- and right-hand-side cable guides used in a four-wheeler roof assembly. The MIM parts are made in a two-cavity mould and replaced expensive machined components.
