Japan Powder Metallurgy AssociationTranslation site

The Japan Powder Metallurgy Association (JPMA), also referred to as the Japan Powder Metallurgy Industrial Association, is the core industry body representing Japan’s powder metallurgy (PM) sector, driving technological advancement, industry standardization, and global collaboration for over 70 years.

Basic Overview & History

• Establishment & Evolution: JPMA was founded on April 30, 1956, evolving from the Powder Metallurgy Technology Research Group (established in 1954) which was dissolved to form the association. It was renamed from “Powder Metallurgy Industrial Association” to “Japan Powder Metallurgy Association” in 1969, marking its expanded scope to cover the entire national PM industry.
• Membership Scale: As of 2017, JPMA had 66 member companies, including 36 metal powder producers, PM product manufacturers, and equipment suppliers. More recent records note over 70 member enterprises across Japan engaged in PM product manufacturing and sales, with some sources citing over 200 member companies in total, supported by specialized committees including Business Committee, Sintered Mechanical Parts Technology Committee, Sintered Friction Materials Technology Committee, Raw Material Powder Technology Committee, Powder Metallurgy Injection Molding Committee, International Standards Committee, and Environment Committee.
• Leadership & Global Role: Mr. Isamu Kikuchi, Chairman of Porite Corporation, serves as President of both JPMA and the Asia PM Association (APMA), with Mr. Takashi Saito as Executive Director. JPMA also acts as the secretariat for APMA, facilitating regional industry coordination across Asia.

Core Organizational Structure

JPMA operates through a series of specialized committees to cover all aspects of the PM industry value chain:

1. Technical Committees: Including Sintered Mechanical Parts Technology Committee (established 1971), Press Technology Committee (1971), Raw Material Powder Technology Committee (1986), Powder Metallurgy Injection Molding Committee (1992), and Sintered Friction Materials Technology Committee, focusing on R&D, process optimization, and new material development.
2. Functional Committees: Such as Business Committee, General Affairs Committee, Technical Committee, Marketing Committee (1995), International Standards Committee, and Environment Committee, handling industry statistics, policy advocacy, international standardization, and sustainability initiatives.
3. Award & Education Bodies: Including the committee managing the JPMA Awards (established 1979) and the education division supporting student outreach and industry talent development.

Key Industry Activities

1.Industry Statistics & Reporting:

JPMA compiles and publishes annual production statistics for Japan’s PM industry, including data on sintered machine parts, bearings, friction products, and electrical contacts.

For example, 2017 saw a 4% increase in auto-related PM sintered parts production to 88,500 metric tons, alongside a 5.5% rise in domestic automotive production to 9.69 million cars.

It also publishes monthly PM statistical reports (starting 1957), Japanese annual reports (starting 1995), and English annual reports (starting 1987) to share industry trends globally.

2.International Collaboration:

JPMA has been a pioneer in Asian PM industry exchange, dispatching its first delegation to the 1986 Powder Metallurgy International Conference (PM’86) in Düsseldorf to formalize overseas partnerships.

It co-hosted the first Asian PM international conference (PM’93) in Kyoto in 1993, establishing Japan’s leading position in the global PM sector.

It also maintains close ties with global peers including the U.S. Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF, joined in 1959), the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA), and regional bodies such as the Taiwan Powder Metallurgy Association (TPMA, 1980) and Korean Powder Metallurgy & Materials Institute (KPMI, 1993).

3.Talent Development & Education:

JPMA runs targeted programs to support workforce development and public understanding of the PM industry:

• Career Support: It organizes job fairs for member companies, such as the 2026 Member Company Information Session, to connect job seekers with PM industry opportunities.
• Educational Outreach: It distributes free teaching tools like What’s Powder Metallurgy to high schools, technical colleges, universities, and public research institutions to integrate PM manufacturing into “monozukuri” (craftsmanship) education.
• Factory Visit Program: It arranges visits to member factories (PM product plants, raw material powder plants, equipment manufacturing plants) for educators and students to gain hands-on understanding of PM production processes.

4.Sustainability Initiatives:

In 2017, JPMA launched two new industry environmental awards focused on CO₂ emission reduction and industrial waste management, aligning with global sustainability trends in manufacturing.

JPMA Awards: Recognizing Industry Innovation

Established in 1979, the JPMA Awards are a core initiative to promote PM industry development, with three main categories:

Industry Impact & Future Outlook

JPMA has guided Japan’s PM industry through multiple growth phases: from the early expansion in the 1960s-1970s driven by automotive and home appliance demand, to the first growth period (1980s) with increased overseas expansion alongside Japanese automakers, the second growth period (1990s) marked by the industrialization of metal injection molding (MIM), and the leap period (2000s) to the current transformation period (2020s) focusing on high-end applications like electric vehicle components and additive manufacturing. As of 2026, JPMA continues to support the industry’s shift toward high-frequency reactor cores, axial gap motors, and eco-friendly PM materials, solidifying Japan’s position as a global leader in advanced powder metallurgy technologies.