P M IN JAPAN

Significant changes in the Japanese economy have forced the P/M indust ry to develop new technologies and markets along with the building of transplants worldwide. The growth rate of P/M pan's production in Japa n has been about 3% in recent years, but the 79,000 tons produced in 1 995 did not match the peak of 81,000 tons in 1990. Introduction of mul ti-level compaction and computer technology have contributed to indust ry growth. customer satisfaction, through the modification of design, processes and materials to improve fetal economics, has been an import ant activity of the P/M suppliers. Both traditional and advanced P/M m aterials have found new markets in the booming micro-electronics indus try.