Southfield, MI – Amsted Automotive Group’s winning streak continues in 2022. Its BurgessNorton business unit won the Award of Distinction for Automotive Transmission during the 58th Powder Metallurgy Design Excellence Awards competition held in June at the PowderMet2022 in Portland. The international conference for powder metallurgy and metal additive manufacturing is sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF).
The award for Outstanding Application of Powder Metallurgy was for the driven and drive sprockets, pressure plate and sector gear used in BorgWarner production all-wheel-drive transfer cases. The Powder Metallurgy Design Excellence Awards judges on three key technologies: conventional powder metallurgy, metal injection molding and metal additive manufacturing. Categories include automotive (engine, transmission and chassis), aerospace/military/firearms, and lawn and garden/off-highway. To qualify for the competition, fabricators who are MPIF members must submit components that epitomize the possibilities inherent in this metal-forming technology, which are then judged by a panel of industry judges.
In addition to winning the Award of Distinction for Automotive Transmission, Burgess-Norton was invited to speak during this year’s event. Jeff Prout, VP Product Technology; George Coppens, CAE Manager; and Xin Yin, R&D Engineer from the Powder Metallurgy business unit presented on the topics of Powder Metallurgy and the Mechanical Diode Clutch in Automatic Transmissions, Powder Metallurgy Clutching Applications in Electrified Propulsion Systems, and Confronting the Challenges of Predicting Powder Metallurgy Performance in Powertrain Applications.
Burgess-Norton has a long history of excelling in powder metal innovation and manufacturing. This year’s award makes 24 times that it has been honored with an MPIF award, and 16 times that it has won the Award of Distinction.
| Year | Award | Category | Part Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Award of Distinction | Automotive Transmission | Drive & Driven Sprockets |
| 2017 | Award of Distinction | Automotive Transmission | Reverse Pocket Plate |
| 2013 | Award of Distinction | Automotive Transmission | Ramp Plate |
| 2011 | Award of Distinction | Hardware/Appliances | Crimp Retainer |
| 2010 | Award of Distinctio | Hand Tools/Recreation | Motorcycle Drive Sprocket |
| 2008 | Grand Prize | Automotive Transmission | Notch/Backing & Pocket Plates |
| 2007 | Award of Distinction | Lawn & Garden/Off-Highway | Actuator Arms |
| 2006 | Grand Prize | Lawn & Garden/Off-Highway | Pulley & Drum |
| 2005 | Grand Prize | Innovative Functional Assembly | Steering system axle assembly |
| 1999 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | Coupler assembly |
| 1992 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | Hydraulic pump displacement cam |
| 1989 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | Sprocket assembly |
| 1986 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | Sector gear |
| 1983 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | Reaction block |
| 1982 | Grand Prize | Ferrous | Manifold |
| 1981 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | Bevel spur gear |
| 1977 | Grand Prize | Ferrous | Truck differential cam plate |
| 1975 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | Hydraulic motor parts assembly |
| 1974 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | Nickel steel PM gear assembly |
| 1973 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | 4-wheel drive nickel steel parts |
| 1971 | Grand Prize | Ferrous | Nickel-steel trans. drive gear |
| 1968 | Grand Prize | Ferrous | Hi-torque, low-speed, hydraulic motor parts |
| 1967 | Award of Distinction | Ferrous | 3-speed transmission for garden equipment |
| 1965 | Grand Prize | Spur gear differential |
Burgess-Norton built its core business around powertrains and propulsion systems. It is the leading producer of powder metal products, having produced millions of units for all types of internal combustion engines for many leading global customers in the automotive and truck markets. The company has been at the forefront of powder metal technology for more than 65 years.
About Amsted Automotive Group
In 2021, Amsted Automotive Group brought together Means Industries Inc., SMW Manufacturing, and Burgess-Norton Mfg. Co., Inc. to form a new and innovative technology team. The integration provides an expanded global presence with 21 facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia to serve the global automotive customer base with a robust manufacturing footprint, producing over 100 million components and assemblies annually. The group combines design and engineering expertise, strategically aligned to be a nimble leader in advanced metal-forming, powder metal manufacturing, and electro-mechanical clutches for electrified propulsion solutions. Amsted Automotive plays an integral role in the global automotive market, both ICE and EV, in North America, Europe, and Asia.