Powdered Metal technology is a high speed, near net-shape manufacturing process. Customers choose P/M over machining, forging, casting and screw machining, due to the “net-shape” production aspect and material “blend-ability”. Being able to design a part, identify the performance expectation, and then have a powdered metal formula designed to meet those performance criteria is very appealing and cost effective. As a result, the P/M industry has grown 4-5 times during the past 15 years. Since 1988, the number of components that were converted to the P/M process from its competitive processes has multiplied no less than four times.