Alcoa celebrates 125 years of modern aluminium

This year saw a milestone in American history that is “known to few but benefits everyone”, according to American forged aluminium wheel producer Alcoa. “On February 23, 1886, Charles Martin Hall passed an electric current through a molten cryolite-alumina solution to form the first small, shining globules of aluminium, known today as ‘our crown jewels.’

After Hall’s process was patented, aluminium became a more common metal and its attributes were recognized and sought after. Hall’s invention led to the founding of Alcoa – which started as the Pittsburgh Reduction Company in 1888. His invention is the reason that Alcoa has contributed to the heart of countless historic events and paved the way for newly developing industries around the globe,” says an Alcoa statement on the anniversary.

Alcoa vice president and chief sustainability officer Kevin Anton said: “We call aluminium the miracle metal not just for one reason – but for many. Its properties are simply amazing: lightweight and ideal for promoting fuel efficiency; strong enough to withstand deep ocean drilling and space travel; non-corrosive, making it perfect for use on the façade of buildings; and, of course, it is infinitely recyclable. No other material has all of these properties.”

In Europe, Alcoa Wheel Products is to present its commercial products at the Commercial Vehicles Show, which takes place between 12-14 April. The company’s European manufacturing facility is located in Székesfehérvár, Hungary and the service and distribution centre in Paal, Belgium. The company is also seeking to strengthen its European position with the appointment of UK sales manager, James Crampton, a 15 year veteran of the commercial vehicle industry.

In other European news, Alcoa’s automotive wheels business secured the contract to supply lightweight forged aluminium wheels for the critically acclaimed Ferrari 458 Italia.  The deal, which was sealed at the end of October 2010, sees the company supply forged aluminium wheel technology that ensures that the front wheel weighs just 10.3 kilos, while the rear wheel weighs 11.5 kilos, a significant saving compared to a typical cast aluminium wheel and a result that is only achievable with a forging process.

These weights are all the more remarkable in view of the sizes: wheel diameters are increased to 20 inches to accommodate large carbon-ceramic brake discs, and rim widths of 8.5 inches (front) and 10.5 inches (rear) are required by the latest generation of high-performance tyres.