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Aluminium Wheels Becoming Standard

The enthusiasm for aluminium wheels is diminishing. The golden years – mainly in the Eighties – of light alloy wheel are over – for the OE as well as in the aftermarket.Yet European original equipment demand for aluminium wheels is still growing. Year on year, by around about one million pieces. However, we have to accept that new materials and methods of production can make steel wheels as light as aluminium wheels. If the suppliers can make progress in styling and the car makers are forced to make smaller and middle class vehicles cheaper there might be a turnaround in the current trend.Some companies are in trouble. Even the world’s biggest wheel manufacturer Hayes Lemmerz in America had to be rescued under Chapter 11. On the other hand, there are success stories from companies like Superior in North America or Borbet in Europe. Companies like BBS or OZ are still doing good business because they are not interested in volume but rather in selling exclusive (and expensive) wheels. The middle-price sector has been absorbed by the low-priced segment of high volume companies. The flame of the aluminium wheel business flickers weaker and weaker.

18th March 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Tire Pressure Control At CeBIT

IMST GmbH (Kamp-Lintfort/Germany) and Automotive Technology NOLEX AG (St. Motitz/Switzerland) claim its jointly developed Tire Pressure Control (TPC) system to be a highlight of its own booth at the CeBIT computer show in Hanover. According to IMST the system is the first equipment of this kind for passenger car and truck tyres with bi-directional communication. In contrast to the current systems this allows to read out directly the sensors inside the tyres, giving the opportunity to receive the actual pressure situation at a touch of a button – independently of automatic intervals. This new system is a one-antenna-only design, which can reduce the time needed for installation. Due to the special housing design with a variable docking to the valve the tyre module can – as IMST and NOLEX say – be used for every wheel form without mechanical adjustments. It is ready to operate world-wide by only small amendments. TPC also opens up the possibility to combine tyre pressure control with keyless entry with the pressure data transmitted to the remote control key when opening the car.

18th March 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

65-Pounder From Accuride

Accuride has launched a 65 pound (29.54Kg) lightweight steel truck wheel. The combination of high strength low alloy steel coupled with engineering design and process has given Accuride a light steel wheel with the strength of a standard steel item coupled with the light weight of an alloy wheel. The 17 pound (7.73Kg) saving over the standard steel wheel the Accuride Lightweight Steel item could increase truck payloads by 306 pounds (139Kg). The wheel is available in 22.5 x 8.5″ for standard hub mounting and can be supplied powder coated, and has a maximum load rating of 7,400 pounds (3364Kg).

7th March 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Compromise Over US Tyre Monitoring Systems

The White House has moved to end the wrangling over the forthcoming mandatory fitting of tyre monitoring systems on vehicles in the USA. The argument has been over which technology to use; whether to directly monitor air pressure in all four tyres or to use the vehicle’s ABS System, which can show when one wheel is rolling lower than another but which cannot detect low pressure in all four tyres. It has been decided to let auto makers offer either system while the Government and the NHTSA study the systems more closely. The main objections seem to be based on system cost, rather than safety performance.

4th March 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Schroeder Acquires Dayton Wheel Products Inc.

Dayton Wheel Products, the manufacturer of wire wheels in Centerville, Ohio, has been acquired by Charles G. Schroeder. This is only the third time the business has changed ownership in its 85 year history. The company recently launched a range of alloy wheels, but Schroeder says that Dayton wire wheels have a discerning customer with whom quality will always count – over 80 per cent of customers in the USA ask for Dayton wire wheels by name. The new owner plans to develop the business by concentrating on quality products and capitalising on the loyalty and enthusiasm of his workforce. The company employs 43 people.

20th February 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

White House Requests Rethink On Pressure Monitoring

The White House Office of Management and Budget has asked the NHTSA to review the requirement for new vehicles to be fitted with tyre pressure monitoring equipment fitted to the wheel and tyre assembly. The OMB states that most TPMS work on data sent by the ABS system, and that the added cost of the new system, may lead manufacturers to stop fitting ABS to vehicles on a cost based argument. The NHTSA proposes that vehicle manufacturers phase in a direct pressure monitoring system, replacing existing indirect systems, over the next four years.

14th February 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Steel Versus Alloy Wheels

The oe alloy wheel suppliers get a lot of orders from car manufacturers these days. Even Volkswagen – in urgent need of a large quantity of alloy wheels – is looking for a qualified supplier in Turkey. But for a lot of companies this has bred complacency. So take care, alloy wheel manufacturers, because the steel wheel producers have not been sleeping in the meantime. Several new car models are being fitted with the latest in steel wheel designs. Concerning the weight of the wheel, the light steel version can be favourably compared with the level of the average alloy wheel. As far as price is concerned, steel is more economic and, in the field of design, a lot of developments have taken place.

1st February 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Hayes Lemmerz To Close North American Factories

Hayes Lemmerz has decided to close two North American plants, one producing steel wheels, another producing aluminium wheels. The aluminium wheel plant is at Somerset, Kentucky (formerly Alumitech), which the world’s largest wheel manufacturer only took over in 1998 from a 50/50 joint venture. The Somerset plant manufactured mainly one-piece cast wheels for the Mercedes M-class. In future the Hayes Lemmerz factory in Hoboken (Belgium) and Ronal’s factory in Mexico will supply the M-Class with aluminium wheels.

23rd January 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Insolvency At Intra

On January 16th, aluminium wheel manufacturing group Intra (Bruchsal/Germany) filed for insolvency. Elements of the group are the ILG casting facility, Intra Fleischmann + Wacker, Exip Autoparts and leasing company Intrex. The insolvency administrator has the task of saving as many of the 260 employee positions as possible and the intention to restructure the company, which is a key OE wheel supplier to Opel. Negotiations with credit institutions and suppliers are ongoing and production is being maintained.

18th January 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Hayes Lemmerz Completes Sale of its System Service Division

Hayes Lemmerz International announced the sale of its non-core System Service business to Schedl Automotive System Service Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Verwaltungs-KG, in Germany. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Hayes Lemmerz acquired the System Service business in 1997 in connection with the acquisition of Lemmerz Holding GmbH. The business has approximately 250 employees and operates five tire and wheel assembly operations, one of which is a 49% joint venture (51% Continental in Portugal). These facilities are located in Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic and Portugal.

15th January 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Integrated Vehicle Tyre Monitoring Launched

A co-operation between Michelin and Wabco sees the launch of a tyre pressure monitoring system specifically designed for commercial vehicles. The system consists of wheel modules which measure tyre inflation pressure and transmit the data to a vehicle mounted receiver. In the event of pressure loss the data is sent several times every minute. The module is attached to the outside of the wheel, alleviating many of the problems associated with internal sensors. An Electronic Control Unit (ECU) capable of handling up to 12 wheels is mounted on the vehicle chassis. In the case of trailer units, each trailer has its own ECU. The ECU transmits the signals to a cab mounted display unit which alerts the driver visually and acoustically whenever a problem arises. The position of the faulty tyre can be ascertained by pressing a button on the display. The system has the advantage of an evaluation algorithm developed by Michelin which detects pressure deviations and leakages immediately. It even functions whilst the vehicle is stationary. The system can be retrofitted and will be commercially available in Europe by the middle of 2002.

10th January 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Earnings Fall At Alcoa

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.

9th January 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

New Pilot Race Bike Tyres From Michelin

From two wheel racing to the street: Michelin presents the new motorbike tyre Pilot Race 2 which has only the name in common with its predecessor, the Pilot Race. The new high performance tyre, available in three versions, was derived from the Michelin racing tyres used in the Supersport 600 World Championship 2001 by Kevin Curtain on his Honda CBR 600, during which he won some races and achieved some pole positions.

8th January 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Manufacturing Plant Closure By Hayes Lemmerz In The US

The world’s largest wheel manufacturer, Hayes Lemmerz, which is facing heavy financial difficulties and is struggling for survival, has announced the closure of its manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky in the middle of next year. 235 employees will lose their jobs. The closure will entail costs of about 55 million US-$ for the current fiscal year.

28th December 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheels and Brake Applications by Titan Europe

For this year’s Agritechnica, Titan Europe is focusing interest on its two main agricultural product areas: high speed wheel and tyre systems and brake applications for high speeds. The newly developed Titan “Relocator” wheel for high speed road use, will take centre stage at the show along with the new range of wedge ramp brakes, developed by the Italian Sirmac division of Titan, and which have made a significant impact on tractors of the power range 60 to 300 HP.

28th December 2001/by Tyrepress Editors