Alcoa Introduces New Lighter, Stronger High-Load Aluminum Wheels Unavailable in Steel
Alcoa Introduces New Lighter, Stronger High-Load Aluminum Wheels Unavailable in Steel
Alcoa Joins Sustainable Development Charter of UITP
HANNOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products (AWTP), an Alcoa (NYS: AA) business unit, introduced four new forged aluminum wheels, two of which offer maximum loads per wheel currently unavailable in steel. The Alcoa wheels are up to 44% lighter than steel equivalents and support the move to higher-load-capacity tires. Alcoa introduced the new wheels at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) Commercial Vehicles conference in Hannover, Germany.
"We are constantly driving ourselves to design aluminum wheels that offer our customers stronger and lighter options to steel that also increase cargo capacity, fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions," said Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products President, Tim Myers. "There is a definite trend within the commercial vehicle industry to move to higher-load-capacity tires, and these new wheels address those needs."
The two new aluminum wheels available at high-load capacities not found in steel include an improved Alcoa global trailer wheel, and the first aluminum 45mm offset trailer wheel for inloaders, trailers designed to transport architectural glass plates and concrete parts. Both wheels support the move to higher-load-capacity tires.
The improved trailer wheel has a maximum load of 5,500kg per wheel, a near 6% increase to the previous Alcoa model, yet is 2.1kg lighter. It is 22.8kg lighter than a comparable steel wheel.
The aluminum 45mm offset trailer wheel is 37% lighter than the steel equivalent with a maximum load per wheel of 5,000kg.
New Alcoa forged aluminum wheels being introduced also include the:
135 FrontRunner, a 135mm offset truck wheel with maximum load per wheel of 5,000kg suitable for use on the front axles of Scania, DAF and Inveco trucks; the Alcoa wheel is 44% lighter than the steel equivalent and supports the move to higher-load-capacity tires;
80mm offset trailer wheel with a maximum load per wheel of 4,500kg for use with the new lightweight SAF 80 One axle by SAF Holland, a leading manufacturer and supplier of product systems and components primarily for trailers as well as trucks, buses and recreational vehicles.
The wheels are produced at the Alcoa Wheels plant in Hungary and are available in a number of finishes including Brushed, Mirror Polished and Dura-Bright®.
The lighter, yet stronger, aluminum wheels for weight and fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions exemplify Alcoa's dedication to greener transportation. Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products affirmed its dedication to environmentally friendly transportation at the IAA conference by joining the Sustainable Development Charter of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP). The Charter is specifically dedicated to increasing awareness on the importance of sustainability within the transportation sector. The Charter's more than 150 global members commit to monitor, measure and to report on their own sustainability performance, while sharing best practices with fellow members.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world's largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa's operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11 consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
Alcoa
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kelly.pasterick@alcoa.com
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KEYWORDS: United States Europe North America Germany Pennsylvania Hungary
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