RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN EUROPEAN POWDER-METALLURGY

This paper gives an up-to-date review of the state of the European P/M industry in the light of the political and economic situation in Euro pe. The effect on the P/M industry of the transition of the East Europ ean countries from a planned to market economy is discussed and the im plications of the introduction of the Single Market in the European Co mmunity are commented upon. The bulk of the paper describes recent tec hnical trends in the fields of cemented carbides, semi-finished P/M pr oducts, refractory metals and P/M structural components. The author co ncludes that, despite the present recession, optimism prevails in the European P/M industry.