Today the rate of growth of the PM industry is only moderate, as compared with the past. This is due to a number of factors which affect its progress: among them high cost of powders for certain applications, offer that exceeds the demand, competition among suppliers that lowers selling prices, users that are reluctant to adopt innovation, costs involved in high standard components, need of new
... [Show full abstract] automated manufacturing equipment (to lower operating costs; conventional processes sometimes are competitive) and finally problems encountered in expanding the PM market among potential users, especially when they are represented by small companies. The market situation of powder suppliers, PM parts manufacturers and of users of PM products is examined.