6 MPR April 2007 metal-powder.net

Miba strengthens China offering

Cincinnati opensrevamp facility

Norilsk swallowsOM’s nickel

AUSTRIAN PM component mak-er Miba AG, based in Laakirch-en, last month opened a new plant, Miba Precision Com-ponents China, in the Suzhou Industrial Park, about 50 km outside Shanghai. The com-pany has invested �10 million in the plant and will produce bearings and PM parts for the Asian market.

“Miba has been a player in the Chinese market for 20 years,” said CEO Peter Mitterbauer.

“This new plant enables

us to establish even closer ties with our customers and to optimally meet growing demand. At the same time this internationalisation safe-guards our Austrian base.”

Its customers include Chinese automakers and engine producers and sub-sidiaries of European and American automakers and component manufacturers. The company expects to sig-nificantly increase the initial workforce of 40 employees in the future.

US PRESS builder Cincinnati Inc has opened a PM compacting press reconditioning facil-ity near its main plant and headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. The new 4000 square metre plant has deep pits and 50-ton cranes to handle large machines.

Reconditioning work is performed by experienced company service personnel who can add new features to older presses, such as new controls and powder feeders,

platen motion monitors, and tool load monitors. The com-pany’s engineering staff will provide technical assistance and design modifications for customers’ special require-ments. The new facility will be the only authorised source of original machine design documentation, drawings, and part process informa-tion. Further information: Bob Unkel, PM press product man-ager at 513-367-7523 or Bob.Unkel@e-ci.com.

Distinguished dozenrewarded at DenverTHE awards committee for the 2007 Metal Powder Industries Federation’s (MPIF) Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award has selected 12 recipients for their achievements and long-term contributions to the PM industry. They will be presented during the PowderMet2007 Conference in Denver, Colorado, at the Industry Recognition Luncheon on Monday, May 14.

The distinguished dozen will be recognised for hav-ing served a minimum of 25 years in the North American PM industry and for their

distinguished contributions: Ian S R Clark, Form Physics LLC; John Engquist, Burgess-Norton Manufacturing. Co.; Francis J Hanejko, Hoeganaes Corporation; Harold C (Bud) Lanzel, SMC Powder Metallurgy; Richard P Mason, Ametek Inc; John E Miller Jr, Chicago Powdered Metal Products Co; Ronald C Mowry, C I Hayes Inc; Mark C Paullin, Capstan Inc; Thomas Philips, Air Products and Chemicals Inc; Louis G Roy, consultant; John D. Sterbank, Eastern Sintered Alloys, Inc; and Tom L Stuart, Delphi Corporation.

THE OM Group of Cleveland, Ohio, completed the sale of its nickel business to Norilsk Nickel in Russia for $408 mil-lion. The company reported it will use the proceeds to improve its financial flexibility and growth through acquisi-tions, as well as through new product and technology development. OM is a

vertically integrated interna-tional producer and marketer of metal-based specialty chemicals and related materi-als with manufacturing plants in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Norilsk is Russia’s largest mining and metallur-gical company. In addition to nickel, it produces palladium, platinum and copper.