Alcoa Joins Sustainable Development Charter of UITP
HANNOVER, Germany–Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products (AWTP), an Alcoa (NYSE:AA)
business unit, introduced four new forged aluminum wheels, two of which
offer maximum loads per wheel currently unavailable in steel. The Alcoa
wheels are up to 44% lighter than steel equivalents and support the move
to higher-load-capacity tires. Alcoa introduced the new wheels at the 64th
International Motor Show (IAA) Commercial Vehicles conference in
Hannover, Germany.
“We are constantly driving ourselves to design aluminum wheels that
offer our customers stronger and lighter options to steel that also
increase cargo capacity, fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions,” said
Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products President, Tim Myers. “There is
a definite trend within the commercial vehicle industry to move to
higher-load-capacity tires, and these new wheels address those needs.”
The two new aluminum wheels available at high-load capacities not found
in steel include an improved Alcoa global trailer wheel, and the first
aluminum 45mm offset trailer wheel for inloaders, trailers designed to
transport architectural glass plates and concrete parts. Both wheels
support the move to higher-load-capacity tires.
The improved trailer wheel has a maximum load of 5,500kg per wheel, a
near 6% increase to the previous Alcoa model, yet is 2.1kg lighter. It
is 22.8kg lighter than a comparable steel wheel.
The aluminum 45mm offset trailer wheel is 37% lighter than the steel
equivalent with a maximum load per wheel of 5,000kg.
New Alcoa forged aluminum wheels being introduced also include the:
-
135 FrontRunner, a 135mm offset truck wheel with maximum load per
wheel of 5,000kg suitable for use on the front axles of Scania, DAF
and Iveco trucks; the Alcoa wheel is 44% lighter than the steel
equivalent and supports the move to higher-load-capacity tires; -
80mm offset trailer wheel with a maximum load per wheel of 4,500kg for
use with the new lightweight SAF 80 One axle by SAF Holland, a leading
manufacturer and supplier of product systems and components primarily
for trailers as well as trucks, buses and recreational vehicles.
The wheels are produced at the Alcoa Wheels plant in Hungary and are
available in a number of finishes including Brushed, Mirror Polished and
Dura-Bright®.
The lighter, yet stronger, aluminum wheels for weight and fuel savings
and reduced carbon emissions exemplify Alcoa’s dedication to greener
transportation. Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products affirmed its
dedication to environmentally friendly transportation at the IAA
conference by joining the Sustainable Development Charter of the
International Association of Public Transport (UITP). The Charter is
specifically dedicated to increasing awareness on the importance of
sustainability within the transportation sector. The Charter’s more than
150 global members commit to monitor, measure and to report on their own
sustainability performance, while sharing best practices with fellow
members.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated
aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of
alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry,
Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace,
automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for 11 consecutive years and approximately 75
percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 31
countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.