Metal Injection Molding (MIM) in India
- September 15, 2019
- Posted by: Rajneesh-Kumar
- Category: Manufacturing in India
If you need highly complex part geometry in small metal parts, you should go for Metal Injection Molding. The production is as flexible as Plastic Injection Molding but once the (minimum) 4 stage process of MIM is complete you get the complexity & Mechanical Properties in your parts.
In India, though we have a few factories and many new are getting set-up now. This means that the process is not unknown and there is capacity availability also.
But since suppliers are new, the experience is not available, this can become the issue of supplier’s in-house capability.
APOGEE has worked extensively in the area of Metal Injection Molding in India. We can provide you key insights about MIM from India.
Let’s discuss some of the issues which MIM suppliers are facing nowadays. The customer needs to know these issues as finally, he is going to get impacted.
- Most of the MIM factories don’t have in-house tool room:
Factories have resources (Man, Machine Method) for the MIM process, But no tool-room in-house. The shrinkage during the MIM process varies, which means high-end software is required for MIM tooling. Indian suppliers get the tooling developed outside, which means long development time (if there are design iterations). - Raw Material is Imported:
The Raw Material for the MIM process in India is 100% imported, which means long turnaround time and exposure to foreign currency fluctuation risk.
- Non-availability of the in-house facility for Post MIM process:
Based on experience most MIM parts require some operations like Coining, Heat Treatment, Zn-Ni electroplating. Most of the factories don’t have them in-house. This means a long production cycle and dependency on a third party (can cause delay). - Non-availability of in-house testing facility:
The MIM parts are small in size so sophisticated meteorology and testing equipment are required. Factories need to invest in these for quick analysis & for taking fast decisions in case of requirements. Depending on third part laboratory consumes time and money.
