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THE ALCOA FORGED STORY

Alcoa not only invented the aluminum industry over 130 years ago but also invented the forged aluminum wheel in 1948. We haven’t stopped improving either process since.

The Alcoa forging process starts with extrusions of aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminum. 6061-T6 aluminum is considered the premium alloy for optimal strength properties optimizing wheel design and production. The aluminum billet is prepared and subjected to large forging presses, ranging up to 50,000-tons used for all wheel and aerospace applications, and extensive heat treatment and curing processes for optimal wheel strength.

Alcoa one-piece forging design aligns the metal grain in a uniform direction along the contours of the wheel, increasing strength resulting in a finished wheel that is strong and lightweight.

• Cast wheels are formed from molten aluminum placed into a mold. While casting may be a less expensive process, the melting of aluminum changes the properties and loses the natural grain and strength of the metal. A cast wheel exhibits strength properties significantly lower than a forged wheel.
• Multi-piece wheels are formed from two or more pieces of the wheel components fixed together with some sort of binding system. Some multi-piece wheels use fasteners while others use welds or other adhesives. The joints of multi-piece wheels concentrate stress where fatigue cracks can start. Fasteners can also develop vibrations and often fail.

One-piece forging is considered superior to other forms of wheel manufacturing in providing ultimate strength while reducing weight. Alcoa one-piece forged alloy wheels offer unmatched strength and durability while reducing weight as compared to cast, multi-piece and steel wheels. In fact, Alcoa forged wheels have been proven to be 423% strong than steel wheels and more than twice as strong as cast wheels in comparable load crush testing. This is the same technology that Alcoa uses to produce wheels for M-1 tanks and 747 jets offering drivers the strongest wheel for tough situations.

In addition, lightweight wheel strength lowers the vehicle’s unsprung weight, allowing faster suspension response, a smoother ride and improved traction when cornering. Additional benefits include reduced brake wear and chassis problems for passenger vehicle owners.

Finally, all Alcoa forged aluminum wheels are precision machined resulting in a smoother and truer rotation. Extreme care is taken in the machine and finish processes resulting in a complete wheel that is not only optimally balanced and strong but also exacting in appearance and more durable in real world applications.

Made in America, each Alcoa wheel is designed to meet and exceed all manufacturer quality and strength standards. Alcoa continuously tests its wheels to exceed global OEM testing and backs their products with class-leading warranties. Visit Here for details on our warranty programs.