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| March 27, 2008
Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products Proudly Celebrates 60 Years of Innovation
Wheel Leader Reflects on History of Innovation and Future Solutions
CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, a Cleveland, Ohio-based
business unit of Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) announces the kick-off of its 60th
anniversary, a year-long celebration of wheel innovation. Today, Alcoa
is the world’s leading supplier of forged
aluminum wheels with more vehicles fitted with Alcoa forged aluminum
wheels than any other brand.
Since inventing the forged aluminum wheel in 1948, Alcoa has led the way
in innovation, growth, technology and sustainability. With the
introduction of Dura-Bright®XBR™,
Dura-Flange® and the 14-in Wide Base
Wheel, Alcoa offers more choices to customers to satisfy their needs.
The Dura-Bright®surface
treatment is one of the most significant new features to be introduced
on forged aluminum wheels in over 20 years and won accolades in 2007
from Automotive News as a PACE award recipient. Aluminum
wheels never need polishing and clean with just soap and water for a
long-lasting, beautiful shine. This patented surface treatment will not
chip, crack or peel and prevents filiform corrosion and discoloring,
even with exposure to oxygen, humidity, moisture and road deicing
compounds. AlcoaDura-Flange®treatment
reduces and protects against excessive rim flange wear and delaying
wheel replacement – well suited for off-road
and heavy hauling vehicles. Both these innovations quantifiably reduce
your customer's maintenance costs and truck downtime. The 14-in Wide
Base wheels replace dual wheel assemblies in combination with wide base
tires that reduce rolling resistance and help deliver 3 to 7 percent in
fuel savings.
In addition to manufacturing aluminum wheels for commercial trucks,
buses, motor homes, light trucks, SUV’s,
passenger cars, trailers and motorcycles, Alcoa also produces a full
line of wheel accessories, and provides just-in-time assembly services
to original equipment manufacturers.
To commemorate its 60th anniversary, Alcoa is
introducing its Retro Wheel for the commercial vehicle aftermarket. This
wheel has the classic look reminiscent of the original forged aluminum
wheel but with all the modern technology developed through the years
behind it.
Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products provides wheel solutions that
meet customer demands through the Alcoa Business System (ABS) which is
founded on an environment that connects product development,
engineering, manufacturing and sales and marketing to consistently
provide the latest in wheel innovation solutions to meet marketplace
needs. The business unit also works closely with the Alcoa Technical
Center, the largest light metals laboratory in the world, to develop
many product technologies and innovations seen in its products today.
Through long-term partnerships with leading North American, Asian and
European commercial vehicles and automobile manufacturers, Alcoa
continues to offer wheel fitment solutions on many new vehicle
platforms. Innovative styling, world class quality & engineering,
manufacturing design and quick market flexibility make Alcoa wheels the
most requested forged aluminum wheel in the global marketplace.
With global demand for Alcoa forged aluminum wheels accelerating, the
business unit continues growing in North America while expanding further
into Europe, Latin America, Australia and Japan. Recent investments in
manufacturing facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, Lebanon, Virginia,
Barberton, Ohio, Monterrey, Mexico and Kofem, Hungary allow Alcoa to
provide the latest in wheel production technology.
Over its 60 year history, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products has
strived for excellence and pursued corporate sustainability. Voted one
of the Most Sustainable Corporations at the World Economic Forum five
years in a row (2004-2008), Alcoa is committed to reducing fuel
consumption and thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions. “With
our commitment to our customers and our investment in our workers, we’ve
set a vision for the future with global environmental responsibility
being one of our on-going goals,” says Kevin
Kramer, President of Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products.
As marketplace demands for new products continue, Alcoa stays ahead of
the curve. A new forged aluminum wheel for the light-weight truck market
was introduced at the RVIA Expo in Louisville, Kentucky and more
recently at the 2008 NTEA Work Truck Show in Atlanta, Georgia. Offered
as an aftermarket component, the M-Series™
wheels are an extension of the Medium Duty commercial vehicle segment
offering corrosion resistance, lighter weight and a streamlined, classic
styling.
On a global scale, Alcoa’s value proposition
of strength, light weight, fuel economy and outstanding looks will
continue to lead the way in innovation, durability, sustainability and
environmental responsibility.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world leader in the production and management of primary
aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina combined through its active
and growing participation in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa
serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction,
commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design,
engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to
customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including
flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also
markets Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems,
precision and investment castings, structures and building systems. The
Company has 97,000 employees in 34 countries and has been named one of
the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic
Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoawheels.com.
MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/alcoa/index.jsp?epi-content=MULTIMEDIA_GALLERY_PUBLIC_VIEW
&newsId=20080327005089
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