APMI International's most prestigious award recognizes APMI members for their significant contributions to the goals, purpose, and mission of the organization as well as for a high level of expertise in the technology, practice, or business of the industry. The 2017 recipients are Prasan Samal and John Shields. 

Samal, North American Hoganas, Inc., Hollsopple, Pa., retired, is one of the leading experts in the stainless steel powder industry. Collaborating with several PM parts producers, he helped develop and qualify many stainless steel components for use in automotive exhaust systems. The resulting success was 100,000 mile warranty performance for PM stainless steel exhaust flanges. Other R&D achievements include optimizing sintering parameters for stainless steel to enhance dimensional accuracy, machinability, weldability and corrosion resistance; refinement of dispersion strengthened copper; and electrolytic iron refinement. Samal has been involved with the PM industry for over 43 years. 

After receiving his BS in metallurgy from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras in 1966, he moved to the United States to pursue his metallurgical graduate studies where he earned his MS from the University of Maryland and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. A member of APMI for 38 years, Samal has been an active member of APMI. Although retired, he continues to be a member of the International Journal of Powder Metallurgy Editorial Review Committee and has written articles for the Consultants' Corner. He has presented at numerous APMI local chapter meetings, as well as MPIF annual conferences and seminars. He has supported the PMT Certification program by instructing preparatory classes for his employers. Samal received the MPIF Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award in 2015. He is author/co-author of 11 U.S. patents, two books, and over 50 technical papers. 

Shields, PentaMet Associates LLC, has, for more than three decades, been the leading expert on molybdenum and its associated metals. His reputation for the research and development of alloys, critical & analytical approach to problem solving, and ability to work with the customer have built solid platforms for his successes. He has worked with NASA to develop materials for space shuttles; refined sintered tungsten ingots to increase tungsten sheet yields; and led a team to bring a novel thermal management system for galvanic corrosion resistance to market. A member of APMI for 32 years, Shields continues to give back to the PM industry. He has written articles for the International Journal of Powder Metallurgy "Consultants' Corner," co-chaired the 2008 MPIF Tungsten Conference, and presented at numerous conferences and seminars. He received his BS in metallurgy, and an MS and Ph.D. in material science from Case Western Reserve University. 

Shields received the MPIF Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award in 2009. He is author/co-author of 2 U.S. patents, three books and over 30 technical papers. He received the Fellow Award from ASM International, Distinguished Service Award from TMS and was voted Engineer of the Year (2002) by Cleveland Engineering Week. Shields is an active member of several ASTM standards development committees.

Established in 1998, the Fellow Award recognizes APMI members for their significant contributions to the society and high level of expertise in the technology of powder metallurgy, practice, or business of the PM industry. Fellows are elected through their professional, technical and scientific achievements, continuing professional growth and development, mentoring/outreach, and contributions to APMI International committees.