Empowering
Growth in American Manufacturing
For more than 100 years, North Central Pennsylvania has been the center of America's pressed materials industry. Pressed materials have their roots in enabling technology and innovation, having played a role in nearly every major technical advancement from electric power generation to manned space flight.
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Today, the North Central Pennsylvania Pressed Materials Consortium is creating a roadmap that will define the future of the industry and drive growth in advanced manufacturing in the U.S.
What are Pressed Materials?
Pressed materials are substances that undergo compaction through the application of pressure to create solid objects with specific shapes and properties. Though the industry originates from powdered metallurgy, this process can involve different types of materials and various pressing techniques. Examples of processes and applications include:
Press-and-Sinter
Press-and-sinter is a pressed materials technique where powdered materials are compressed at high pressures and then heated below their melting point to form solid components. This method enables the creation of intricate, near-net-shape parts from materials challenging to process using conventional melting or machining techniques.
Metal Injection Molding
Metal injection molding (MIM) is a metalworking process in which finely-powdered metal is mixed with binder material to create a feedstock. The feedstock is then solidified and shaped to produce the final product. Metal injection molding is ideal for simplifying the production of high-volume products or products that have complex shapes.
Isostatic Pressing
Isostatic pressing is a manufacturing process that applies equal pressure in all directions to a powder to compact it into a solid. Isostatic pressing is used in aerospace, automotive, industrial, and medical applications. It can be performed at room temperature (cold isostatic pressing) or elevated temperatures (hot isostatic pressing).
Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a process that creates three-dimensional objects from digital files by depositing and fusing materials layer by layer. Key benefits of AM include the potential for part consolidation – reducing the number of components in an assembly, customization and rapid prototyping capabilities
Advantages of Pressed Materials
Pressed materials offer several benefits and characteristics over other manufacturing processes including:
Reduced Waste
Rather than subtractive processes that reduce a raw material into a desired shape, Pressed Materials compact source material into the desired shape.
Sustainability and Cost Saving
Pressed Materials can use waste feedstocks from other processes to form powders which can be pressed into new products, parts, and components.
Controlled Porosity
Pressed Materials can be customized across various factors such as density or porosity, ideal for filters, self-lubricating parts, and other uses.
Complex Geometries
Pressed Materials processes can create intricate shapes with greater accuracy and efficiency than other manufacturing methods.
Strength
Pressed Materials can offer comparable or sometimes superior strength to traditionally manufactured components.
Over 100 years of innovation...
...and counting. Pressed materials have been a part of American manufacturing both driving and enabling innovation for more than 100 years.
Today, the industry continues to evolve and innovate, finding new applications in aerospace, defense, medical equipment and devices, consumer goods, and automotive industries while helping our country meet critical supply chain needs.
Pressed Materials in North Central PA
North Central Pennsylvania boasts a rich legacy of pressed materials manufacturing that dates back to the 1800s, with its foundations deeply rooted in the field of powdered metallurgy.
At the Heart of it All
North Central Pennsylvania (Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Potter, and McKean counties) is recognized as the “Powder Metals Capital of the World,” with a history in the sector dating back to the late 1800s.
With over 64 companies specializing in powdered metallurgy and related manufacturing processes, representing approximately 40% of all such companies in the United States, the region is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in pressed materials application and technology.
64+
Companies specializing in powdered metallurgy and pressed material manufacturing are located in North Central PA
40%
of powdered metallurgy companies in the U.S. are located in North Central PA
38%
Today, nearly 40% of the world's powdered metal parts are produced in North Central PA
Leveraging Our Strengths
North Central Pennsylvania isn't just a region with a strong manufacturing history; it's a dynamic hub for the future of pressed materials.
Research & Development
Penn State's Materials Science and Engineering programs are ranked #1 nationally in materials science and #2 in materials engineering for four consecutive years in NSF total research expenditures (as of January 2022 data).
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Having this research powerhouse in our "backyard" gives us significant advantage in shaping the future of the Pressed Materials industry and creating new technologies and processes.
Workforce
With 43% of all powdered metallurgy jobs in the U.S. located in the region, North Central PA boasts a high concentration of skilled workers.
This workforce is continually supported by local Career and Technical Centers (CTCs) and high schools, alongside the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, which provides vital training and a steady pipeline of talent.
Industry
With a nationally significant concentration of powdered metallurgy companies and a growing presence in advanced techniques like isostatic pressing and additive manufacturing, this region is at the forefront of innovation.
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Companies here benefit from deep-rooted expertise, a highly skilled workforce, and a collaborative ecosystem that fosters cutting-edge solutions.
A Partnership for Progress
Pennsylvania’s EDA Tech Hub awards demonstrate the power of collaboration, the value of investing in innovation, and the promise of a brighter future for the Commonwealth and its leadership role in national competitiveness. It’s a testament to the potential unlocked when communities come together, forging a path towards shared economic growth and prosperity.
Consortium Members
