Accuride Corp. has introduced its new Quantum 99 aluminum alloy, which is 20% stronger than Accuride’s previous alloy, enabling Accuride to reduce the weight of its standard lightweight aluminum wheel by 11% to 40 lbs., the company said.
“To help our customers achieve greater fuel economy and lower emissions, Accuride continues light-weighting our products while maintaining superior levels of safety and performance,” said Rick Dauch, Accuride’s president and chief executive officer. “As the latest step in our efforts, we’re excited to introduce our next-generation Quantum 99 alloy and 40 lb. aluminum wheel. These demonstrate our commitment to offering the industry’s strongest, lightest and most durable aluminum wheels. Quantum 99 will serve as the foundation of a new series of lightweight aluminum wheels from Accuride that provide superior fatigue life and durability to competing technology.”
Accuride is launching Quantum 99 on its most popular aluminum wheel, the standard 22.5 x 8.25. Thanks to its advanced metallurgy and engineering, the new wheel consistently achieves twice the fatigue life of the competing 40 lb. aluminum wheel in rigorous laboratory testing, according to the company. Its 5 lb. weight savings can trim 100 lbs. off of a tractor-trailer rolling on all-aluminum wheels.
Accuride’s new aluminum wheel – the 42644 – will be available in the third quarter of 2017 and manufactured at its Erie, Pa. and Monterrey, Mexico aluminum wheel plants.