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WHEELS
Lead the Way with Alcoa Wheels
“Advancing each generation” is something that Alcoa believes in and stands for. With over 125 years of experience in aluminium production – and more than 65 years in the manufacturing of forged aluminium wheels for trucks, trailers and buses – the company’s aim for the future is to remain market leader, both globally and in Europe.
Wheels manufactured by Alcoa Wheel Products Europe start as a single block of high-strength corrosion-resistant aluminium alloy. An 8,000-tonne press forges the block into a wheel shape and, once forged, the wheels are heat- treated to maximise overall mechanical strengths. The Alcoa
forging process is set up in such a way that the grain flow of aluminium is perfectly aligned with the shape of the wheel, even in the critical area where disc and rim meet. The result? Wheels with unrivalled forged strength – five times stronger than steel wheels even – that pass the most demanding tests.
The LBF test is a biaxial fatigue test for truck wheels in which actual driving conditions (rotating, bending and operational loading conditions) are taken into account when testing the wheel life durability. The test is initiated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability and, in order to meet
the requirements, the Association of European Wheel Manufacturers (EUWA) insist that wheels need to sustain load for an equivalent 1.5 million kilometres of testing. The Alcoa wheels successfully passed this test, meaning they fit the requirement truck manufacturers insist on.
The Japanese JWL test simulates a truck hitting a high curb at a speed of 50km/h, by dropping a 910kg weight onto a tyre and wheel assembly. While the steel wheels show excessive rim deformation and air loss, the Alcoa wheels again succeed. Besides its massive strength, the Alcoa wheels generate weight savings between 228 and 394kg per truck/trailer combination, increasing a vehicles’ payload capacity. The wheels run cooler, having a positive impact on tyre wear, and the life of the brakes and suspension components.
The Alcoa portfolio includes wheels for trucks, buses and coaches, more specifically: 22.5 x 8.25; 22.5 x 9.00; 19.5 x 7.50; and 19.5 x 8.25. Alcoa also offers trailer wheels available in sizes
22.5 x 11.75; 22.5 x 13.00; and 22.5 x 14.00. Among special products in the company’s range are low deck trailer wheels (17.5 x 6.00 and 17.5 x 6.75), medium duty wheels for trucks in the range of 6 to 12 tonnes (17.5 x 6.75), and wheels for light duty vehicles (16.0 x 5.5). Alcoa offers wheels in four finishes – from a basic entry brushed metal, to a shiny, easy-to- maintain Dura-Bright EVO finish. Alcoa Dura-Bright EVO wheels are one of a kind. The wheels are shiny but don’t require polishing to keep their bright looks – all they need is to be cleaned with water and a detergent. These wheels are resistant to cleaners with pH levels between 2 and 12, enabling the use of a very wide variety of cleaning solutions to simplify maintenance, while preserving the integrity and brightness of the wheel.
Alcoa wheels and other Alcoa- related products can be purchased from Alcoa’s UK distributor Tyre- Line Ltd.
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