Richland native Chris Adam receives award for outstanding career achievements

Christopher T. Adam, President and Chief Executive officer, VALIMET Inc., Lodi, California, has received the Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy award from the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) for his outstanding career achievements.

Established in 1968, the award was presented by MPIF President Rodney Brennen, at PowderMet2023, the International Conference on Powder Metallurgy and Particulate Materials, in Las Vegas, Nevada. MPIF is the trade association for the North American metal powder and particulate materials producing and consuming industries.

The award recognizes professionals who have devoted a major part of their careers to one or more segments of the powder metallurgy industry and whose contributions and achievements deserve special recognition.

Chris, the son of Helen and the late Elmer Adam of Richland, began his PM career at Iowa State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering, prior to earning his MBA from Saint Francis University. His knowledge of atomization has led to over 30 years of experience working for numerous powder manufacturers, including Superior Graphite, Kobelco Metal Powders of America, North American Höganäs Company, Royal Metal Powders, and Carpenter Technology, prior to his current position as President of VALIMET Incorporated. Chris is a member of the MPIF Board of Governors and is the current president of the Association for Metal Additive Manufacturing. He has held various volunteer positions within the PM industry, including as a former president of APMI International, Chairman of the APMI Dayton Chapter, and has presented several papers at MPIF’s annual conferences. Chris was instrumental in the development and implementation of the APMI Fellow Award.

Powder metallurgy is an advanced metalworking process that forms metal powders into precision components used in applications such as automobile engines and transmissions, medical implants and surgical tools, hardware, industrial machinery, sporting goods, defense, and firearms. This innovative technology includes metal additive manufacturing (3D printing), the latest technology in a vibrant industry. More than 800 million pounds of powder metallurgy parts are made annually in North America.

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