Alcoa chairman, Alain Belda, and CEO, Klaus Kleinfeld, rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange this morning, celebrating Alcoa’s 50 years as part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). Ringing the opening bell also forms part of the company’s year long celebrations – 2009 is the 120th anniversary of Alcoa’s founding.
Hayes Lemmerz Werke GmbH, the German based subsidiary of the international steel and aluminium wheel manufacturer, has been awarded a certificate of achievement from DAF Trucks N.V. and Leyland Trucks in recognition of the quality of the products delivered to the two companies. The certificate, states Hayes Lemmerz, recognises that the company consistently met or exceeded quality performance requirements for the parts supplied by Hayes to DAF and Leyland in 2008.
Evo Corse has released its ‘Dakar’ wheel into the aftermarket. According to the company, the 16 x 7-inch wheel has also proven its worth on the Land Rovers of the British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Each wheel is low pressure cast in a permanent steel mould from A356 Primary aluminium alloy, before being receiving a T6 heat treatment to avoid imperfections. The wheels are then CNC machined both front and rear to get the precise spoke profile and to eliminate any possible imbalance. The Dakar is specified up to a load index of 1500kg per corner, meaning that light armoured applications and full loads are both safely within Evo Corse’s stringent design criteria.
Crypton has added a four post lift option to its scissor lift Crypton Test Lane. The new four post lifts are electro hydraulic and are available for use in Class IV and Class VII stations. All of the Crypton four post lifts are supplied with turntables, hydraulically operated play detectors, brake pedal depressor and low profile platforms that are covered with aluminium checker plate finish. All the four post lifts are ‘ATL’ approved. Crypton also offer a complete drawing service for the installation of Crypton Test Lane and they also have an ‘in house’ team of installers.
John Watkins chairman of Crypton said: “We are pleased to add the four post lift options to the Crypton Test Lane knowing that we are bringing the quality of product that has always been associated with Crypton to the market place. We are very proud of the complete service we offer in conjunction with our experienced and dedicated distributor network. When a customer takes the decision to install a Crypton Test Lane, we realise the significance that this level of investment means to a garage and we have the systems and experience in place to ensure the smooth running of the whole project.”
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.
German company Carlsson has produced what it claims is the world’s lightest 21″ alloy wheel, the 1/5 Evo Ultra Light. Weighing only 10.8kg, the wheel is 40 per cent lighter than any other cast 21″ wheel, says Carlsson.
This weight reduction was achieved by applying forged technology, whereby the material is so strongly densified that there are no traces of air pores in the aluminium. At the same weight load, this allows a thinner wall, compared to usual rims, resulting in improved handling and driving pleasure.
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.
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.
A Chicago, US based investor group has purchased aluminium manufacturer wheel Weld Racing LLC for an undisclosed sum. Included in the buyer group is Weld Racing management members Kyle Fickler, and Scott Rider, the latter engineering and motor sports group manager for American Racing/Weld Motorsports.
The 41-year old company, which 100 per cent manufactures and designs its wheels in Kansas City, Missouri, was bought out of bankruptcy by American Racing Equipment Ltd in October 2006 for US$24.4 million. According to Fickler, the investment group has carved out the assets of Weld Group from American Racing, allowing Weld to once more stand on its own.
Dunlop has announced that its SP Sport 600 tyres have been chosen as original equipment on Mitsubishi Motors’ new Lancer Evolution X. The high-performance vehicle comes with a new powerful all-aluminium 2.0 litre turbo engine, with power ranging from 295PS and 407Nm of torque to 359PS and 492Nm, depending on the model. Dunlop will meet the task of transmitting that power to the road with its SP Sport 600 in the size 245/40R18 93Y.
Some time in the next few years – by 2011 at the latest, aluminium wheel producer BBS International will close its factory and headquarters in Schiltach, Germany (the “S” in the name BBS). In its place, corporate owner, Belgium’s Punch International will invest 25 million euros in the second BBS plant, in Herbolzheim, southwest Germany.
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.
Innotec Supplies (UK) Ltd is promoting an own-brand Alu Scratch Repair System, designed to repair surface damage to alloy rims in a “quick and professional manner.” And it can also be used on decorative strips, roof rails or any other metal parts. According to the company, the Alu Scratch Repair System gives you a full set of tools to make a repair in about 30 minutes, which can even be done without removing the tyre. The product is priced at £140.00.
The Innotec Alu Scratch Repair System is a set of products specially developed to repair surface damage to metal/aluminium-look parts or objects in a quick and professional manner. Almost all “cosmetic” damages to metal or aluminium look coatings can be repaired, says the company.
Aluminium wheel producer and suppler Superior Industries International has appointed Parveen Kakar to the position of senior vice president, Corporate Engineering and Product Development. The 42-year old has been with Superior since 1989, most recently serving as the company’s vice president, Program Development. Kakar holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from India’s Punjab Engineering College.
Sealey has launched a new range of LED Torches with Magnetic Pick-Up Tool. This innovative, 2-in-1 tool is ideal for the motor mechanic and alleviates the need for having the 2 individual tools – proving handy when working alone. The aluminium body and ultra bright LEDs have up to 100,000 hour life and a knurled handle for extra grip. The range features two models, one with 5 LEDS (range – LED005) and the other with 6 (range – LED007). The 5 LED torch has a magnetic ‘pick-up’ of 0.5kg and the 6 LED, 1.3kg. The ‘pick-up’ tool is operated by releasing the torch head and then extending the rod by hand. So when you drop that all-important nut or bolt – help is at hand.
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