NAICS 332117 Quarterly Industry Report
Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 332117Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing (NAICS 332117) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[9], and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, advanced manufacturing analysts, and automotive supply chain investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Definition & Overview
Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing (NAICS 332117) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing powder metallurgy products using techniques such as pressing and sintering or metal injection molding per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Activities include metal powder blending and compaction, sintering in controlled-atmosphere furnaces, metal injection molding of complex shapes, secondary operations including sizing, coining, and machining, and heat treatment of sintered parts. Powder metallurgy compacts metal powder into shaped dies under high pressure, then sinters the compacted parts at temperatures below the melting point to bond particles into solid components. The process produces near-net-shape parts with minimal material waste, making it cost-effective for moderate-to-high-volume production of gears, bearings, structural components, and self-lubricating bushings. Automotive applications represent the largest end market, with each North American-produced vehicle containing an estimated 40-45 pounds of powder metallurgy parts in engine, transmission, and chassis assemblies. Metal injection molding extends powder metallurgy into small, complex components for medical devices, firearms, and electronics where traditional pressing cannot achieve required geometries. Per Census Bureau[5] data, roughly 28 establishments employ over 9,300 workers in this specialized manufacturing sector serving automotive, industrial, aerospace, and medical device customers. Based on the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is 550 employees. The EPA[7] regulates air emissions from sintering furnaces and heat treatment operations under area source NESHAP standards for metal fabrication. OSHA[8] enforces safety standards for high-tonnage compaction press operation, powder handling, and furnace maintenance in powder metallurgy production environments.
What's Included in This Industry
- Metal powder blending and compaction
- Sintering in controlled-atmosphere furnaces
- Metal injection molding of complex shapes
- Sizing, coining, and repressing operations
- Secondary machining of sintered parts
- Heat treatment and steam oxidation
- Oil impregnation for self-lubricating bearings
- Copper and bronze infiltration processing
- Powder metallurgy tool and die manufacturing
- Quality testing and dimensional inspection
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332 |
| Industry Group | Forging and Stamping | 3321 |
| NAICS Industry | Forging and Stamping | 33211 |
| National Industry | Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing | 332117 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 332111 | Iron and Steel Forging | Iron and Steel Forging produces wrought components through plastic deformation that achieve higher density and strength than sintered parts, with forging and powder metallurgy competing for similar automotive and industrial component applications |
| 332119 | Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Stamping (except Automotive) | Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Stamping produces sheet metal components through press forming that serves different geometric requirements than the three-dimensional shapes powder metallurgy creates from compacted metal powders |
| 331110 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing produces atomized iron and steel powders used as primary raw materials in powder metallurgy compaction and sintering operations |
| 336310 | Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing | Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing purchases sintered gears, connecting rods, valve guides, and bearing caps for automotive powertrain applications representing the largest single end market by volume |
| 339113 | Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing | Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing uses metal injection molded components in stainless steel and titanium for surgical instruments and orthopedic implant devices requiring complex geometries and biocompatible materials |
| 332114 | Custom Roll Forming | Custom Roll Forming shapes metal through continuous bending processes that produce linear profiles, while powder metallurgy creates discrete three-dimensional components through pressing and sintering of metal powders |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 45.4% | 54 |
| 2 | California | 9.2% | 11 |
| 3 | Indiana | 6.7% | 8 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 6.7% | 8 |
| 5 | Michigan | 6.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Illinois | 5.9% | 7 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 4.2% | 5 |
| 8 | Florida | 4.2% | 5 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 3.4% | 4 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 2.5% | 3 |
% Of Establishments
0%
45%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for powder metallurgy?
NAICS 332117 covers powder metallurgy part manufacturing using pressing and sintering or metal injection molding techniques per the U.S. Census Bureau[4].
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[6], the threshold is 550 employees for federal small business contracting eligibility and SBA lending products for powder metallurgy manufacturing operations.
How large is the powder metallurgy industry?
Per Census Bureau[5] data, roughly 28 establishments employ over 9,300 workers in this specialized sector, with automotive applications driving the majority of production volume for sintered gears, bearings, and structural components.
What is the powder metallurgy process?
Metal powder is blended, compacted in shaped dies under high pressure, then sintered at temperatures below melting to bond particles into solid parts per Bureau of Labor Statistics[9] process data, producing near-net-shape components.
What is the largest end market?
Automotive applications represent the largest end market per Census Bureau[5] shipment data, with each North American vehicle containing an estimated 40-45 pounds of powder metallurgy parts in engine, transmission, and chassis assemblies.
What is metal injection molding?
Metal injection molding combines fine metal powder with polymer binder, injects the mixture into molds, removes the binder, and sinters to full density per Census Bureau[5] process classification, producing small complex parts for medical and electronics applications.
What environmental regulations apply?
The EPA[7] regulates air emissions from sintering furnaces and heat treatment operations under area source NESHAP standards for metal fabrication, with controlled-atmosphere sintering generating fewer emissions than open-air metal processing.
What safety standards apply?
OSHA[8] enforces safety standards for high-tonnage compaction press operation, metal powder handling and dust explosion prevention, sintering furnace atmosphere management, and heavy tooling changeover procedures in production environments.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]EPA epa.gov
- [8]OSHA osha.gov
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
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