Alcoa, Pittsburgh, introduces the surface-treated Dura-Bright EVO commercial truck wheel, said to be ten times more resistant to corrosion that is primarily caused by road salts and weather. Dura-Bright is not a coating, but rather a surface treatment that penetrates the aluminum and becomes an integral part of the wheel. In addition, Alcoa’s wheels are made from one piece of forged aluminum, making them lighter and five times stronger than steel wheels, increasing payload and fuel efficiency.
In addition, the wheel is up to three times more resistant to chemicals, including hydrofluoric acid, found in the toughest truck wash cleaning agents. This enables the use of a wider variety of cleaning solutions to simplify maintenance, while preserving the integrity and brightness of the wheel.
Alcoa’s surface treatment experts at the Alcoa Technical Center developed the Dura-Bright wheel technology in collaboration with the Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products business. The Company launched the first Dura-Bright product in 2003. Three years later, Alcoa’s experts improved the brightness and corrosion performance of the Dura-Bright treatment and introduced Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology. Alcoa’s scientists have now enhanced the patented Dura-Bright technology with the development of Dura-Bright EVO wheels.
The Dura-Bright EVO wheel is now commercially available in Europe, where the Company has already seen significant adoption of its Dura-Bright wheels. Alcoa has begun producing the wheel at its manufacturing plant in Székesfehérvár, Hungary. The wheel is expected to be available in all other markets in 2015.
http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/news/news_detail.asp?pageID=20140123000187en&newsYear=2014
