P/M in the United Kingdom

Trends in the United Kingdoms powder metallurgy manufacturing base, since the last review in 1996, have been mixed. Those companies with proprietary technology operating in niche markets (e.g. valve train parts, specialty powder production, spray forming, metal injection molding) have generally prospered. On the other hand, the strength of the pound sterling, particularly against the furo, has made life more difficult for the general industry, with plant closures having occurred in some sectors. The United Kingdom retains a strong and active powder metallurgy research base, with particular strengths in novel process and material technology development, process modeling, material characterisation for modeling and nondestructive testing techniques. As a result, for various networking initiatives, the research base is also less fragmented than was previously the cose.