The Alcoa-Kofem factory in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, is the first-ever recipient of the Good Corporate Citizenship and Social Responsibility Award, from leading Hungarian business and economic journal Figyelo. The Alcoa-Kofem factory produces forged aluminium truck wheels.
The Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products team that developed Dura-Bright(R) surface treatment was honored earlier this month with the 2003 Visionary Award. Presented at the Innovation in Business Conference in Cleveland, by Ohio-based business magazine Smart Business Network and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio, the Visionary Award was created five years ago to recognize Northeast Ohio businesses and arts for innovative ideas and applications.
In the USA, RoadStar magazine – which has a monthly circulation among owner operators and company drivers of 160,000 – named the Alcoa Wheel’s Dura-Bright(r) wheel finish as its Most Valuable Product Award for 2002. Dura-Bright(r) is a patented treatment that penetrates the aluminium, allowing wheels to be cleaned merely by spraying with soap and water.
Alcoa has expanded the range of its Dura-Bright(r) coated aluminium wheels to 14″ rims, in response to customer demand. The coated wheels have all the advantages of aluminium, such as less weight and better heat dissipation, while the Dura-Bright(r) surface treatment helps them to resist corrosion.
Alcoa’s 16-inch forged Aluminium wheels will feature on the limited edition Jeep(R) Wrangler Rubicon Tomb Raider model based on the custom Wrangler Rubicon featured in the upcoming movie, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. Chrysler Group’s Jeep brand approached Alcoa to design, produce and ship product in less than three months. Says Joel Alent, Account Manager for Forged Speciality Wheels, “Our ability to produce low volume speciality wheels and meet the quality and delivery needs of higher volume OEM products makes this an ideal partnership.” Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products plant in Cleveland delivered. They conceived, sourced and shipped the short run of 5,000 wheels to the customer in less than three months.
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Alcoa, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Texas, and citizens groups have announced a Clean Air Act agreement under which the company will further reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from its Rockdale Operations lignite-fired power generating units near Rockdale Texas. The total effect of Alcoa’s previous and latest commitments would reduce the company’s emissions of sulfur dioxide by at least 52,000 tons per year and emissions of nitrogen oxide by at least 17,000 tons per year.
Patrick E. Miller has been appointed Vice President of Sales and Product Engineering for Hayes Lemmerz North American Wheels Business Unit. Prior to his new appointment, Patrick was a Vice President and General Manager for Alcoa Engineered Automotive Products.
In a series of staff changes at Alcoa, William F. Christopher, 48, has been named executive vice president, Alcoa and Group President for Alcoa Aerospace, Automotive and Commercial Transportation. He has been responsible for aerospace and commercial transportation since September and now adds Alcoa’s global automotive market to his remit. This group includes Howmet Castings, Alcoa Fastening Systems, Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products, AFL Automotive, Alcoa Cast Wheels and Alcoa Automotive businesses.
Alcoa is to cut 8,000 jobs after posting a fourth quarterly loss of 223 million dollars. The loss included charges of 95 million dollars for restructuring of operations serving the aerospace, automotive and industrial gas turbine sectors. The restructuring mainly affects Europe and South America. Alcoa has also announced that it is to sell its non-core speciality chemicals and packaging equipment businesses.
Alcoa announced today that it has realigned its existing businesses to provide a closer fit with customer needs in the automotive, aerospace, and commercial transportation market sectors. Bob Hughes, 57, Executive Vice President, will lead a new Alcoa Automotive and Allied Products Group, which will include the businesses that support automotive customers by providing electrical distribution systems, cast and forged automotive wheels, cast and assembled components, and other products.
Alcoa, the world’s largest aluminium manufacturer and a key player in the aluminium wheel sector, reported lower fourth quarter profits due to weakened prices and lower demand from the aerospace and transport industries. The company also posted its first net quarterly loss in seven years. Fourth quarter earnings, excluding charges, were 11 cents per share, however a 28 cent per share after-tax charge for restructuring resulted in a net loss of 17 cents per share against a net income of 45 cents per share for the same quarter in the previous year. The company is continuing with restructuring activities seeking a target cost saving of $1 billion in 2003.
Alcoa Inc. and Dooray Air Metal Co. Ltd. have announced that they have signed a definitive asset purchase agreement for Alcoa to acquire Dooray’s aluminium extrusion assets, located in Changwon, Korea. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in spring 2001 for Alcoa to acquire the Dooray assets. The Changwon facility produces hard alloy extrusions, rod and bar, extruded shape and tubing for use primarily in industrial, transportation, defence and aerospace applications. The aluminium car wheel business, in which Dooray is the market leader in Korea and Alcoa is one of the biggest oe suppliers in North America, is not affected.
Alcoa Inc. of the U.S. and Dooray Air Metal Co. Ltd. of Korea have jointly announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding for Alcoa to acquire Dooray Air Metal’s extrusion business, located in Changwon, Korea. Dooray’s production of aluminium wheels is not affected.
The BMW factory at Spartanburg (South Carolina), in which in addition to the Roadster ever more X5 off-road vehicles are produced, will soon face production capacity problems. A higher vehicle output could also benefit American wheel suppliers such as Superior Industries or Alcoa/Reynolds.
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