Fuel your automotive designs with OptiMIM’s precision-engineered metal components, where metal injection molding expertise meets the most demanding standards.

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Automotive

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MIM is ideal for producing intricate automotive parts such as gears and engine parts that require precise tolerances and complex geometries.

Complex Geometries

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MIM produces automotive parts with minimal machining requirements, reducing manufacturing time, costs, and waste. 

Near-Net-Shape

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MIM produces small and lightweight metal parts like fuel injectors, sensors, and actuators, which contribute to improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions in vehicles.

Compact Solutions

MIM is well-suited for producing large quantities of identical automotive components for mass-market vehicles. 

High-Volume Production

Automotive Leaders Choose OptiMIM To Help Achieve Key Goals

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In production, high costs often stem from secondary operations and manual assembly. Each additional step increases expenses and the potential for inconsistencies.Metal injection molding (MIM) nearly eliminates the need for these extra steps.MIM technology delivers consistently high-quality, complex metal components at scale. It optimizes part performance and reduces secondary operations. With best-in-class controls, value-engineered part consolidation, and strength and density across a wide range of alloys, MIM offers a way to optimize precision components and produce them in virtually any volume. Expert design for manufacturing knowledge is applied to each project.Webinar Topics:<ul><li><a href="/metal-injection-molding/process" target="_self">MIM technology innovations and processes</a></li><li><a href="/additional-capabilities/engineering" target="_self">MIM design for manufacturing engineering</a></li><li><a href="/additional-capabilities/part-improvement" target="_self">Part consolidation</a></li><li><a href="/metal-injection-molding/benefits" target="_self">MIM performance benefits</a></li></ul>Fill out the form to access the recording.

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Find out how design flexibility, material diversity, and production repeatability make MIM ideal for industries requiring performance-critical components.

Leveraging MIM for Performance | OptiMIM Webinar

Metal injection molding (MIM) eliminates secondary operations and manual assembly to deliver high-quality, complex metal components at scale with optimized performance. 

Leveraging MIM for Performance

Food-grade stainless steel is a safe metal for food preparation and water storage. Due to its inability to be die cast, many companies opt for investment casting or machining, overlooking the <a href="/metal-injection-molding/benefits" target="_self">advantages of&nbsp;metal injection molding</a> (MIM) for high-volume, complex stainless steel molds.<h2>Metal Injection Molding for Food Grade Metals</h2>When seeking a food-safe metal, customers often prioritize strength and corrosion resistance. Although&nbsp;aluminum, zinc,&nbsp;and&nbsp;copper&nbsp;can be used for food-safe components, they require post-casting coating to prevent leaching into food. <a href="/materials/stainless-steels" target="_self">Stainless steel</a>, on the other hand, eliminates the need for coating or plating, reducing secondary operations and costs.To ensure the safety of food and water, it is crucial to minimize residual metal and flash. MIM tools are designed with less flashing due to the use of stronger metals compared to&nbsp;die casting alloys, making post-production corrections more difficult.<h2>Popular Food Safe Stainless Steel</h2>One of the most important aspects of food grade stainless steel is the sanitary finish. It needs to be easily and reliably cleaned and sanitized. If not, the surface may be susceptible to harmful bacteria growth—which is not compatible with FDA regulations.Most food processing equipment is made from 304 or 316 austenitic stainless steels. While OptiMIM offers a variety of stainless steels for metal injection molding, MIM-316L is most widely used when it comes to components that are safe for food and clean water. Not only does MIM-316L have high strength properties, but it is also very corrosion resistant—which is important for metals that come in contact with acids that break down and change the alloy composition over time. The high alloy and low carbon content of MIM-316L make it a great fit for food grade applications.Use our <a href="/materials/metal-selector-tool" target="_self">metal selector tool</a> to compare mechanical and physical properties of other MIM alloys.<h2>Designing For MIM</h2>Metal injection molding offers design freedom from the traditional constraints of shaping stainless steel. Not only can you create complex stainless steel parts at high volumes, but MIM makes it possible for designers to mold parts with:<ul><li>Holes and slots</li><li>Undercuts, both internal and external</li><li>Threads</li><li>Ribs and webs</li><li>Knurling, lettering and logos</li></ul>With metal injection molding you can achieve tighter tolerances by only having to place material where it is needed for function and strength.  For small, complex parts demanding high strength, corrosion resistance, and food safety, consider consulting with an&nbsp;OptiMIM design engineer&nbsp;to explore the&nbsp;MIM process&nbsp;and its advantages for food-grade applications.

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Learn how OptiMIM’s MIM processes support the use of FDA-compliant stainless steels for safe, durable, and corrosion-resistant components."

Food Grade Stainless Steel | OptiMIM Article 

Food-grade stainless steel is a popular choice for food processing equipment due to its strength, corrosion resistance, and easy sanitation. Metal injection molding (MIM) offers a cost-effective and efficient way to produce complex stainless steel parts for this industry. 

Food Grade Stainless Steel

The key to streamlining a supply chain is eliminating risk and minimizing the number of suppliers needed to manufacture a product. Ideally, assembly costs are also reduced. Utilizing the metal injection molding process to single source complex components achieves both.The metal injection molding process lends itself to complex components and part consolidation that cannot be achieved by any other single process.&nbsp;Sign up for the next webinar and discover how customers develop <a href="/materials/special-and-custom-materials" target="_self">custom materials and solutions</a> by understanding their pain points, as well as:  <ul><li>Methods of part consolidation</li><li>How to eliminate secondary assemblies</li><li>Risk mitigation</li><li>Complex component case studies</li></ul>Fill out the form to access the recording.

Explore how MIM allows multiple parts to be consolidated into a single component, improving product performance while reducing manufacturing steps.

Part Consolidation with MIM | OptiMIM Webinar

Metal injection molding (MIM) streamlines your supply chain by consolidating complex parts, reducing suppliers, and eliminating secondary assemblies. 

Automotive

Automotive Leaders Choose OptiMIM To Help Achieve Key Goals

Complex Geometries

Near-Net-Shape

Compact Solutions

High-Volume Production

A Look At
Automotive Applications

Industry Leading Certifications

BEYOND THE BASICS

Elevate Your Knowledge About Metal Injection Molding for Automotive

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Article

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Interested in starting your MIM journey?

Automotive

Automotive Leaders Choose OptiMIM To Help Achieve Key Goals

Complex Geometries

Near-Net-Shape

Compact Solutions

High-Volume Production

A Look AtAutomotive Applications

Industry Leading Certifications

BEYOND THE BASICS

Elevate Your Knowledge About Metal Injection Molding for Automotive

Webinar

Article

Webinar

Global Locations, Custom Solutions

Interested in starting your MIM journey?

A Look At
Automotive Applications