Smith Metal Products

Smith Metal Products adds Titanium Metal Injection Molding (TiMIM) capabilities to its MIM portfolio of materials that include stainless steels, alloys and ceramics.

TiMIM involves mixing powdered Titanium metal with a binder material to compose a feedstock capable of being handled by injection molding equipment. Metal injection molding allows complex Titanium parts to be shaped with precision in a single operation and in high volume as compared to traditional Titanium machined metal components.

Adding TiMIM capabilities opens a new, wider range of component applications for Smith Metal Products, where strength-to-weight ratio parts are desired. It is often accomplished with superior features using Titanium compared to other strong but much heavier metals like steels.

TiMIM part features can include undercuts, varying wall thickness up to 0.125' or 3mm. TiMIM parts also accept many surface finishes including anodizing and electro polishing and can be finish machined if necessary.

'We are excited to have taken delivery of dedicated Titanium Metal Injection Molding (TiMIM) equipment,' stated general manager, Todd Jensen. 'Our Employee Owner-Operators are now trained on the equipment and process. We have received successful TiMIM molding verification, Mr. Jensen reported.

Titanium metal injection molding often is a more effective process to achieve precision parts while eliminating machining. That’s because TiMIM parts are precise, net shaped parts that are produced faster and usually require no secondary operations. But not all parts qualify for this highly cost-effective, alternative solution.

About Smith Metal Products: Smith Metal Products 100% Employee owned (ESOP) and operates a state-of-the-art 65,000 square foot facility, that is ISO 9001:2008 Certified and ISO 13485 compliant. The company’s controlled documentation system assures customers of consistent set-up and repeatability on every production run.

The company operates the latest electric molding machines, continuous and batch debind and sintering furnaces, solvent debinding systems, 5-axis CNC machining and grinding centers, ceramic kilns, coining, laser etching/engraving and inspection lab. Smith also provides rapid prototyping and a complete array of value-added services including plating, laser welding, heat treatment, surface finishing and polishing, assembly, final pack out and more. Design for Manufacturability assistance is a core belief and is a free service at Smith. The company manages single and multi-cavity, hot runner and unscrewing mold design and builds at local domestic tool shops near the facility.

History of Smith Metal Products

Smith Metal Products employs over 50 years of molding experience and has an extensive range of material systems designed to offer the utmost flexibility of any MIM/CIM producer. Smith is a division of Plastic Products Company, Inc. which is one of the largest Employee owned molders in the United States. Since 1957 our company has offered highly engineered solutions to customers manufacturing needs.

From Quality System requirements to capital equipment investment, Smith has the experience and the capability to insure your project is a success. Our competitive advantage lies in highly experienced personnel, state of the art equipment, commodity based feedstock systems and a proprietary processing technology that all guarantee our customers needs are met and exceeded.

Major historical events

• 1957 Founded as a mold design and build company named Smith Metal Products.
• 1962 First molding machines purchased and name changed to Plastic Products Company (PPC).
• 1982 Reached 3 Plastic Molding Divisions and 300 employees.
• 1989 Formed ESOP and became 30% employee owned.
• 1996 Smith Metal Products formed within PPC to pursue commercialization of Metal and Ceramic Injection Molding.
• 1998 Launched Dedicated Powder Injection Molding (MIM & CIM) Facility.
• 2000 Reached 7 Plastic Molding Plants and 750 employees.
• 2012 Smith opened a new 60,000 square foot state of the art MIM/CIM facility.
• 2017 Smith Metal Products adds Titanium Metal Injection Molding (TiMIM) equipment.