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Alcoa Wheels Selected for Lightweight Lamborghini

When Alcoa spoke of plans to extend its passenger car OEM supply in late 2008, it didn’t just have run of the mill vehicles in mind – on April 23 it announced the selection of Alcoa Auto Wheels to supply lightweight wheels for the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce (SV). The forged aluminium wheels to be supplied, says Alcoa, reduce un-sprung weight and contribute to the SV shedding 100 kilograms as compared with the standard Murciélago.

23rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Downturn and Rising Raw Material Costs Lead to Alcoa Loss

Alcoa has reported a 27 per cent sequential drop in revenue, resulting in a loss of US$480 million for the first quarter of 2009. This figure, says the company, reflects the impact of the economic downturn on its core industrial and commercial markets as well as an historic decline in aluminium prices. Revenues for the first quarter 2009 were $4.1 billion, down from $5.7 billion in the fourth quarter 2008 and down 36 per cent from revenues of $6.5 billion in the first quarter of 2008 (after excluding divested businesses). The sharp drop in revenue resulted from the impact of the economic downturn on Alcoa’s end markets, including the automotive industry.

8th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Releases Lighter, Brighter Wheel

Like your wheels bright? Then look no further…In March Alcoa announced that its Commercial Vehicle Wheels business has launched a new line of forged wheels that employ a new proprietary process. This process, says Alcoa, delivers not only the industry’s lightest forged aluminium wheel and even greater strength; it provides a finish on both sides that is six times brighter than any wheel in its class.

25th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Launches 120mm Offset Lightweight Truck Wheel

One year on from introducing its new series of lightweight wheels, forged aluminium wheel market leader, Alco launched the new FrontRunner 22.5 x 11.75, 120 mm offset wheel. According to the company, Alcoa has succeeded in lowering the weight of this FrontRunner wheel from 25 to 23.6 kilos, shaving off a further 1.4 kilograms.

The new wheel is interchangeable with the current one and also features a repositioned hand-hole design and rim flanges with a patented “Unified Rim Horn Design” to accommodate both stick- and clip-on balancing weights. The new FrontRunner will be available from February 2009 on. The 22.5 x 11.75 wheel joins existing products in 22.5 x 8.25, 22.5 x 9.00, 19.5 x 7.50 and 19.5 x 8.25 sizes.

13th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Continues in Forged Wheel Business

Alcoa Inc’s recently announced restructuring plan is designed to help the company weather adverse global economic conditions and as such includes “decisive action,” according to the company. However, despite what some media sources erroneously reported, Alcoa is not exiting the forged aluminium wheel business. In a statement sent to Tyres & Accessories on 2 February company said: “Alcoa will continue to produce forged aluminium wheels for both auto and commercial vehicle applications.” The confusion appears to have been caused by the fact that Alcoa is exiting the cast passenger car wheel business and will consolidate and close its Beloit, Wisconsin, plant by 1 June 2009.

2nd February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Closing its Final Cast Aluminium Wheel Factory

Alcoa has announced it will completely withdraw from the passenger car cast aluminium wheel business, instead focusing its efforts in this segment upon forged aluminium wheels. This completes a trend begun some four years ago; of the four cast aluminium wheel factories operated by Alcoa, three have already been taken out of service.

7th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Solomon Alsberg selects Alcoa for expanding Russian Market

Alcoa has begun supplying lightweight forgings to Russian designer and manufacturer of forged aluminium wheels Solomon Alsberg. According to Razinkin Alexander, marketing director for the niche tuning and customisation market specialist, “Solomon Alsberg discovered that Alcoa offers the ideal mix of lightweight product with pricing, quality and flexibility. “Alcoa is one of the only suppliers offering forged blanks up to a size of 19-inch. When machined to their final style, the lightweight wheels weigh just 8.2 kilogram.”

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa’s Dura-Bright Wheels: Just Add Water

Alcoa is promoting the stay-clean qualities of its Dura-Bright wheels. Penetrating the wheel itself, the unique Dura-Bright technology is designed not to crack, peel or corrode. Dura-Bright has also been used in Alcoa’s commercial vehicle range of wheels for some time.

“It was clear that consumers required a new wheel solution that is durable while retaining a high quality, innovative appearance,” explains Mike Parnell, vice president and general manager – Alcoa Auto Wheels. “By being easy to clean and staying clean longer, Dura-Bright technology wheels enhance a vehicle’s appearance allowing Audi A6 [a key OE fitment] owners to enjoy their vehicle while lowering maintenance efforts.”

13th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

A6 Fitment First European Luxury Saloon OE for Alcoa Dura-Bright

When Audi chose aluminium as a major component on the original A8, it turned to Alcoa for assistance in the building off the vehicle’s space frame. The cooperation between the two companies also extends to Alcoa’s wheel products; the new A6 debuted at this year’s Paris International Motor Show, and the new model arrives fitted with Alcoa forged aluminium wheels featuring the company’s patented Dura-Bright technology surface treatment.

13th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa to Supply US Bus Fleet

Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products has announced it has entered into a partnership agreement the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, one of the oldest bus fleets in the US. The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, with over 11 million passenger trips a year, is Ohio’s fourth largest public transit system. Its fleet includes diesel buses, electric trolley buses, ‘Project Mobility’ vans and buses and vintage ‘Wright Flyer’ trams.

3rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Renault Picks Alcoa Dura-Bright for Hybrid Refuse Collection Vehicle

The first Renault Trucks refuse collection vehicle equipped with a hybrid engine will start a field test, fitted with Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels, in the Lyon urban area in October 2008. The aim is to confirm, under real operating conditions, that up to 30 per cent reduction in fuel consumption – and therefore in CO2 emissions – can be achieved by using Renault Premium Distribution Hybrys Tech. The market launch is planned for end 2009.

1st October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Greenwood Bros Wins “Oldest Alcoa Wheel” Competition

Andrew Gaskell of Greenwood Bros & Gaskell has won Alcoa wheel products’ “oldest Alcoa wheel”, competition launched in April. Fleets from all over Europe sent in pictures of old Alcoa wheels still in use and the eldest one dated back to August 1982. Up to now, Andrew Gaskell of Greenwood Bros & Gaskell has been using a 22.5 x 8.25 Alcoa wheel, manufactured in the USA in August 1982.

11th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Launches Three New Wheel Lines

Alcoa Automotive Wheels is expanding its aftermarket catalogue to include three new wheel lines for full size trucks. The aluminium forged wheel pioneer is now offering Discovery Series, Revolver Series and Xtreme Series for current and late model full size trucks, including Chevrolet and GMC 2500/3500, Dodge 2500/3500 and Ford F-250/350. Each wheel is offered in 20×9, 8-lug fitments with a Dura-Bright technology surface option. This is the first time the patented Dura-Bright anti dirt, brake dust and road grime treatment has been made available on aftermarket products.

5th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Offers More Dura-Bright Sizes

Alcoa has decided to offer more wheel sizes in the Dura-Bright finish during the course of 2008. In September: 22.5×13.00 will be released; October 2008: 19.5×14.00 and 22.5×14.00; November will see the introduction of 22.5×7.50 and 22.5×17.00 wheels. Increased demand means 17.5×6.75, 17.5×6.00 and 22.5×15.00 size Dura Bright wheels will be released between the end of 2008 and start of 2009. 19.5×7.50 and 19.5×8.25 were released in July 2008.

14th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Releases New Lightweight Supersingle Wheel

Continuing its “battle against every kilo”, Alcoa have released details of their new supersingle forged aluminium wheel from the company’s Hungarian plant. With dimensions of 22.5×11.5, the wheel has dropped 1.3 kg from its previous weight, coming in at 22.1 kg.

The wheel is available in August, and comes with bolt holes of either 26 mm or 32 mm.

15th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors