Forming Focus — Dr. Laxmappa Hosamani
Vice President of Technology, Process and Quality 
Dr. Laxmappa Hosamani is aiming for the sky — at least as far as Metal Injection Molding (MIM) technology is concerned. As AFT's Vice President of Technology, Process and Quality, Laxmappa has been helping the company take MIM technology to the next level — making parts for aircraft engines. It's an exciting development that he admits he could never have foreseen. "When I joined AFT ten years back, I thought MIM technology would never have any chance in aerospace applications — especially engines," he says. "The traditional businesses for MIM have been electronics, firearms, power tools and automobiles. But in the last year, AFT has been working with most of the leading aircraft engine manufacturers in developing and qualifying complex alloys for stringent applications. The next year or two are going to be very critical to making it a success." However, if anyone can accomplish the task, it's safe to say that Laxmappa — a holder of numerous patents on casting technology and a veteran of working with aerospace materials — is the person to do it. Born and raised in India, he holds a Masters in Metallurgical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology and worked for seven years processing aerospace materials in India. He also received a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Oregon Graduate Institute, writing his thesis on Alloy 718, the most common material used in aircraft engines. Prior to joining AFT in 1994, he worked with the parent company PCC Structurals as Principal Engineer, developing new casting methods to improve the performance of aerospace and human implant materials. Beginning his career at AFT as Chief Metallurgist responsible for all metallurgical activities and developing new materials for use in MIM, Laxmappa was promoted to his current position in 1996. Since MIM is a relatively new technology that is pushing the boundaries of metal shaping capabilities, there are bound to be frustrations from time to time. Laxmappa admits to a certain amount of impatience when it comes to realizing technological breakthroughs. "The most frustrating part of the job for me is to not be able to get results quickly," he says. "I believe that there is a solution to every problem. But the time it takes to get successful results can be exasperating when meeting a deadline." Still, the rewards of developing cutting-edge technology far outweigh the frustrations for him. "The most rewarding part of my job is to take an idea from R&D to manufacturing, and see that it happens day in and day out," Laxmappa says. "That, and working with a team of dedicated and skilled engineers and technicians who constantly look for new methods and processes to take technology to the next level." However, despite all the work he's doing at AFT, Laxmappa does find time to enjoy the outdoors in Colorado. He says that his favorite outdoor activity is hiking the trails around Boulder and in the mountains. "With almost three-hundred days of sunshine, I like it here," he says. "There are lots of opportunities for outdoor activities." As for the future of MIM, Laxmappa sees a great deal of room for progress and is excited by the challenges it presents. "The MIM process is a relatively new technology compared to other metal manufacturing technologies like casting and forging," he says. "The technology is at a level where casting was in the '70s. Our goal at AFT is to make this technology as well-established as other forms of metal manufacturing. We're headed in that direction." For Laxmappa, when it comes to the possibilities of MIM, the sky's the limit. | 
