engine for the F-35. Pratt & Whitney also invited Howmet to participate in joint engineering activity and pro- duce turbine airfoils for the JSF Sys- tem Development and Demonstration program. The company has delivered initial development castings. Howmet signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Ordnance Defence Weapons Division of BAE Systems, plc, of the U.K. to supply structural titanium castings for the XM777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer, a joint program of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army. BAE Systems selected Howmet as the preferred supplier for the initial phase of the program. Howmet will begin production in mid-2003, with delivery to the Marine Corps sched- uled for 2004. Full-rate production is planned for 2006 to 2010. Solution Partnering The Heavy Truck and Specialty Products Group of AFL Automotive received a Cost Management Partnership Award from PACCAR, Inc., the manufacturer of heavy-duty Class 8 trucks, for its cost-reduction ideas. Within the customer-supplier relationship, AFL was able to incorporate design changes, which improved manufacturing to lower material costs and reduce product complexity. In addition, General Motors named AFL its supplier for power and signal distribution systems for two new projects. Gary Bowman, Alcoa Center, Pennsylvania, USA Construction Brand Gains Thanks to new develop- ments in technologies and products and a new marketing campaign, Alcoa’s Noblejas and Arteixo facilities in Spain are positioning Alcoa’s Series Alfil^® as a leading brand in the domestic building and construction market, with a record 25% sales increase over 2001. Alfil was the first Spanish window and door brand to receive the N mark quality certification from Aenor, the national organization gov- erning quality standards. The Spanish hotel chain Melia selected Alfil for a new five-star hotel in Mexico. Up and Away with Boeing Whenever a new Boeing Delta IV launch vehicle lifts off, Alcoa products are part of the show. Alcoa’s Market Sector Lead Team approach provided one-stop shopping for all of Boeing’s alu- minum and light alloy needs. Using wide plate, available only from Alcoa, allowed Boeing to design a single-piece rocket tank dome, thus reducing the costs and risks of a multi-piece dome. Boeing currently is scheduled to provide Delta IVs for 22 Air Force missions, in addition to commercial launches in the next few years. Automotive Advances General Motors offers consumers the chance to dress up their Hummer H2s and enhance their performance. By selecting Alcoa’s forged and polished wheels, buyers match the style and chrome-like appearance of aluminum with the off-road strength and dura- bility that forged wheels provide for large aircraft. BMW continued its shift toward performance-enhancing and weight- saving aluminum suspension compo- nents by choosing Alcoa’s cast swing arms for its 2001 7-series and 2003 5-series sedans. Critical elements of the suspension system, these com- ponents must have great strength and durability. Alcoa’s unique vacuum- riserless/pressure riserless casting process produces thin-walled castings with the necessary properties. The redesigned 2002 Nissan Altima introduced better driving per- formance and more interior space than previous models, thanks in part to Alcoa automotive components. These include an aluminum hood and trunk lid, as well as many of the components necessary to reinforce the attachment areas. Alcoa also supplied the aluminum sheet for the rear suspension cradle. Nissan was able to increase the car’s exterior by six inches and its interior space by 10%, and add a 3.5L V6 engine option, without increasing weight. Bombardier Contract Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace and Alcoa signed a multiyear contract covering structural components and wing and fuselage skins for all Bombardier regional and business jets. Alcoa Founding Firefighter: Alcoa Australia’s Tania Conroy, through Alcoa’s community grant program, helped found the Secret Harbour Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service. News 2002 20