The company’s Burgess-Norton business was recognized for automotive applications of powder metallurgy at PowderMet 2023.
SOUTHFIELD, Mich.—Amsted Automotive business unit Burgess-Norton Mfg. garnered two Design Excellence Awards at the recent Powder Metallurgy (PM) Design Excellence Awards Competition, the company said in a press release.
Burgess-Norton Manufacturing, of Geneva, Illinois, received a Grand Prize in the Automotive – Electric Vehicle Category for Conventional PM Components. The company also took home an Award of Distinction in the Automotive – Transmission Category for Conventional PM Components. The competition program took place in June at the PowderMet 2023 International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials, held in Las Vegas.
The Automotive – Electric Vehicle Grand Prize recognized Burgess-Norton’s outstanding application of powder metallurgy in an innovative notch plate and pocket plate. The application is used in an electro-mechanical E-axle disconnect that is deployed in a currently-produced electric vehicle, the company said.
The notch plate and pocket plate rotate in an assembly. Balance requirements are achieved through a combination of tooling geometry, die-fill compensation, and sectional densities, avoiding the need for a balance correction operation. The use of powdered metal in these parts is reported to provide a 9 percent weight saving.
Burgess-Norton also received the Automotive – Transmission Award of Distinction for its application of powder metallurgy in drive and driven sprockets used in certain transfer cases for automotive customers. The sprockets are used in a hybrid drivetrain that incorporates battery propulsion and traditional internal combustion engine technology. The use of powdered metal sprockets is said to work well in this high-density application, where part strength and resistance to wear is critical. Also, the near-net-shape capabilities of the Burgess-Norton powdered metal process reduce costly machining steps and material scrap, the company said.
In addition to these awards, Amsted and its business units had a significant presence at PowderMet2023: International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials. Engineers presented at various technical sessions, and experts from Amsted were session chairs for a diverse group of topics facing the industry and manufacturing. The annual PowderMet trade show took place June 18-21, 2023 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Amsted Automotive Group said it produces more than 100 million components and assemblies annually for a global automotive customer base. The group combines design and engineering expertise, advanced metal-forming, and powder metal manufacturing with electro-mechanical clutch design capabilities for electrified propulsion.