Diamond Jubilee for Alcoa

Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, a business unit of Alcoa Inc., announced the start of its 60th anniversary celebrations on March 27. The Ohio, USA based division has planned a year-long celebration of wheel innovation to mark the milestone. Today, Alcoa boasts being the world’s leading supplier of forged aluminium wheels, with more vehicles fitted with Alcoa forged aluminium wheels than any other brand.

The company claims the invention of the forged aluminium wheel in 1948 as but one of many innovations, including more recent products such as Dura-Bright, Dura-Flange and the 14-inch Wide Base Wheel. The Dura-Bright surface is, believes Alcoa, one of the most significant new features to be introduced on forged aluminium wheels in the past two decades, and its introduction won significant media accolades in 2007. Aluminium wheels with a Dura-Bright surface should never need polishing, and can be cleaned with just soap and water for a long-lasting, attractive shine. The patented surface treatment will not chip, crack or peel, and prevents filiform corrosion and discolouring, even when exposed to oxygen, humidity, moisture and road deicing compounds.

Alcoa’s Dura-Flange treatment reduces and protects against excessive rim flange wear and delaying wheel replacement – Alcoa comments that it is well suited for off-road and heavy hauling vehicles. The company’s 14-inch Wide Base wheels replace dual wheel assemblies in combination with wide base tyres that reduce rolling resistance and help deliver fuel savings of 3 to 7 per cent.

In addition to manufacturing aluminium wheels for commercial trucks, buses, motor homes, light trucks, SUV’s, passenger cars, trailers and motorcycles, Alcoa also produces a full line of wheel accessories, and provides just-in-time assembly services to original equipment manufacturers.

To commemorate its 60th anniversary, Alcoa is introducing its Retro Wheel for the commercial vehicle aftermarket. This wheel has the classic look reminiscent of the original forged aluminium wheel but with all the modern technology developed through the years behind it.

With global demand for Alcoa forged aluminium wheels reportedly accelerating, the business unit continues growing in North America while expanding further into Europe, Latin America, Australia and Japan. Recent investments in manufacturing facilities in Ohio, USA, Monterrey, Mexico and Kofem, Hungary allow Alcoa to provide the latest in wheel production technology.

Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products comments that over its 60 year history, it has strived for excellence and pursued corporate sustainability. Voted one of the Most Sustainable Corporations at the World Economic Forum five years in a row (2004-2008), Alcoa says it is committed to reducing fuel consumption and thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions. “With our commitment to our customers and our investment in our workers, we’ve set a vision for the future with global environmental responsibility being one of our on-going goals,” says Kevin Kramer, president of Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products.