Ruger’s in-house MIM operation increases speed to market for new firearms components
February 29, 2016
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., commonly known as Ruger, is a leading US designer and manufacturer of firearms including rifles, pistols, revolvers and shotguns. In November 2014 the company purchased US MIM producer Megamet Solid Metals Inc., based in St Louis, Missouri. The company has since stated that the acquisition of Megamet not only secured valuable in-house MIM production capacity, but also brought the significant advantage of improving the company’s speed to market for new products.
Michael Fifer, CEO of Sturm Ruger & Company Inc., stated at the company’s 2015 Annual Shareholder’s Meeting that the key benefits of having an in-house MIM operation was in new product development, where new parts can often benefit from minor modifications or improvements. With outsourced MIM part production, Fifer suggested that it can take twelve to sixteen weeks to change the tool and be able to produce new main parts. By bringing parts of this in-house, Ruger can take the decision to focus on the must-have components and prioritise them in the production schedule.
Whilst the primary purpose of Ruger’s MIM operation is for the development and production of MIM components for internal use, it has been reported that the company undertakes the limited production of MIM parts for external customers.
