How to Keep Maintenance Costs Down by Catching Rim Flange Wear Early
Maintenance is a critical component to ensure the safety of fleets and their drivers, along with owner-operators and even other drivers and vehicles on the road.
Wheel maintenance is a significant contributor to the overall efficiency, lifetime operating costs and appearance of commercial vehicle wheels, particularly when it comes to monitoring for rim flange wear.
“Excessive rim flange wear is one of fleets’ primary safety and maintenance concerns,” says Ross Simmons, Managing Director of Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia. “It’s one of the most common maintenance conditions experienced by a number of heavy hauling fleets across Australia and the costs can be managed if they can avoid excessive rim flange wear by catching it early.”
While this can be a concern for fleet managers who are tasked with keeping maintenance costs down and preventing wheel offs and too much down time, the good news is that rim flange damage is less harmful to the wheel than to the tyre. Sharp edges in the flange can damage the tyre bead and, while it’s more common with aluminium wheels, it can be repaired if detected in time.
What is Rim Flange Wear?
Rim flange wear is the irregular wear on the surface of the rim flange of commercial vehicle wheels. It looks like abrasive wear and/or pitting and is found at the top of the rim flange.
Rim flange wear can become quite severe and sharp and it can damage tyres when a tyre is being demounted from a wheel that had a severe case of wear with sharp edges on the rim flange.
What causes Rim Flange Wear?
In a nutshell, it’s abrasion that causes rim flange wear.
Rim flange wear happens when the weight of the loads being carried causes the sidewalls of the tyres to rub back and forth against the wheel flange, creating wear.
It can also be caused by using a wheel that is too narrow for the tyre and can also be worsened by corrosive or abrasive environments and applications, like tanker operations or in refuse applications, where the load shifts frequently.
It can occur especially when tyres are underinflated and/or overloaded.
After a while, the abrasion erodes the flange surface and causes sharp edges that damage the tyres, making replacement inevitable.
Alcoa Wheels supplies FREE Rim Flange Wear Gauges to help fleets and owner-operators keep an eye on rim flange wear, as well as a helpful manual for maintaining the rim flange on Alcoa Wheels.
Order your FREE Rim Flange Wear Gauge
The flange of the wheel is the critical design element that helps to keep the tyre airtight against the wheel and prevents the tyre from falling off. It’s crucial to maintain this surface during regular tyre changes for maximum safety and to reduce costs.
Alcoa Wheels has step by step instructions on ow to check rim flange wear which you can download below.
Enter your details HERE and we’ll pop a free Rim Flange Wear Gauge in the post to you.
Download the Alcoa Wheels Rim Flange Maintenance Guide for Step-by-Step instructions on how to reduce and maintain Alcoa Wheels rim flange wear.
(If you would like a Rim Flange Wear Gauge mentioned in the guide, click HERE and we’ll send you one in the post along with a hard copy of the Guide.)
As the industry moves toward more and more aluminium wheels being used because of their lighter weight advantages for fuel-efficiency and lowered CO2 emissions, staying on top of rim flange wear maintenance will need to be close to the top of the list for fleets and owner-operators.
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
November 30, 2021
How KS Easter’s Maintain Their Shine to Stay Ahead of The Rest
KS Easter is one of Australia’s most well-respected road transport businesses, providing time sensitive road transporting solutions.
It was started back in 1976 in Newcastle by Ken Easter Jnr, as an owner-driver.
The very first truck Ken bought belonged to a friend of his father’s. It was a G88 Volvo with a tri-axle tipper on it and with a single axle pusher.
An International 4200 Transtar was the next truck Ken invested in, and then an ’81 Kenworth.
All three prime movers were pulling tippers around Newcastle, and when the Kenworth truck started to add some versatility to his small business, Ken opened his route up to running Sydney-Brisbane with time sensitive and refrigerated freight.
1988, when his base in Newcastle had became unsuitable for future growth, and Ken was faced with making the choice between moving operations south to Sydney, or north to Brisbane because it made sense to be at either end of the haulage route, he chose Brisbane.
KS Easter’s well known Pegasus logo originated back in 1981 when Ken took his brand new Kenworth to the sign writer, where he happened to spot the Steve Miller Band album cover ‘Book of Dreams’ that depicted a Pegasus. Since then, it’s become an iconic logo around Brisbane and along the haulage route to Sydney.
Ken recalls his father, an owner-operator himself, coming home in the afternoons and 5-year-old Ken hopping up onto the running board of the truck and riding up the driveway.
That’s where it all started, he says, and he has passed this tradition of growing up around trucks to his two sons to create a true family owned and operated business, with Ken’s oldest son, Kenny, as General Manager, and Ken’s wife, Karlie, as Compliance Manager, while younger son, Matthew, is Paymaster.
Today, the KS Easter fleet runs across most of the Australian east coast, South Australia and Melbourne, and comprises about 120 prime movers and roughly 260 trailers consisting of curtainsided drop decks, refrigerated units and B-Triples, with 12 B-Doubles sold to Easter’s by Trailer Sales being added to the fleet in 2021 alone.
MAINTAINING THE KS EASTER FLEET
With a fleet the size of Ken’s, it pays to have your own in-house repair, servicing and tyre fitting setup, which they do.
KS Easter is self-regulated, so they don’t have to present their trucks for inspection.
They have on site the same brake roller testing and shaker machine as the authorities have, as well as their own hoists. It may come as no surprise that they have a proven record in that particular area of maintenance and servicing.
Easter’s have a strict maintenance programme that sees the trucks over the shaker and brake testing machine at every service to test brake performance and efficiency, and to diagnose steering and suspension components of the trucks.
In addition, computer downloads and other compliance related measures ensures their commitment to road safety.
When it comes to cleaning their trucks and trailers, Easter’s have a wash bay at their Brisbane depot where a team of in-house detailers take care of the washing of the trucks inside and out – down to the wheels.
When asked how they keep their combinations so polished by a follower on their Facebook page, the reply was:
“There’s not much to polish when you have Dura-Bright rims and protective coating on the tanks and bumpers. Not that hard if you keep on top of it. And a team of detailers to help.”
Some of the drivers take pride in keeping their trucks clean themselves, while having the choice to have the detailer crews take care of it if they wish.
One of KS Easter’s newest B-Doubles supplied by Trailer Sales and on Alcoa® Dura-Bright® wheels.
“To be honest, Dura-Bright was a life saver when they came on the market,” says Matthew Easter. “Polishing means down time. Saving on that down time means we can get our trucks back on the road sooner and making sure our customers are given the standard of service we promise.”
When Ken bought his first Kenworth back in 1981, Alcoa Wheels were not a common commodity in a world where steel wheels were the go-to. The new aluminium wheels stood out to Ken as something special, and he put Alcoas on his tipper trailer too, which was an even more rare practice in the early 80’s Australian trucking world!
Since the early 1990’s K S Easter has 100% spec’d Alcoa wheels on their trucks and trailers and switched to 100% standard spec of Dura-Bright® wheels when they arrived on the market.
“Every single piece of equipment we purchase is on Alcoa Dura-Bright® wheels,”says Matthew.
“The patented technology offered by the Alcoa Dura-Bright® surface treatment allows the wheels to stand strong against dirt and road grime, while keeping their shine,” adds Shannon Girard, Marketing Manager for Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor of Alcoa Wheels products in Australia.
“While K S Easters are living out the Dura-Bright® wheels slogan, ‘No More Polishing’, they are also reaping all of the premium benefits offered by Alcoa Wheels, such as their light weight for improved fuel efficiency, their unmatched strength from our proprietary MagnaForce® alloy, which is 17% stronger than any other alloy in the industry, and of course their excellent heat dissipation resulting in extended tyre and brake life.”
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
November 15, 2021
Why Wheel Finish Matters (and How to Choose the Right Finish for Your Heavy-Duty Equipment)
Since Alcoa Wheels were first introduced to Australia in 1985 —when steel wheels were the go-to for heavy duty vehicles— it has become commonly accepted that aluminium wheels are easier to maintain, look better for longer, and because of their light weight are a good way to meet lower-cost-of-ownership goals.
While aluminium wheels make maintenance easier compared with steel, they still need regular washing with a mild detergent, along with polishing to maintain their shine and keep oxidation at bay.
“Many heavy haulage companies in Australia have to contend with our harsh environment,” says Ross Simmons, Managing Director for Howmet Wheel Systems – distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia.
“It’s not only constant exposure to dirt, dust and road salts that are a problem,” he adds. “Heavy acids in truck washes can also contribute to aluminium wheels becoming dull and pitted.”
The choice of finish for your aluminium wheels is determined by how heavy-duty your equipment’s needs are, and also whether your bottom line can benefit from lowered cleaning and maintenance costs and less wheel-offs.
What makes wheel finish matter is
how healthy your bottom line is,
what your equipment’s day-to-day workload is,
the environment your equipment is exposed to, and
how important a pristine image is to customer satisfaction and retention.
These factors all determine which wheel finish you might choose to adopt.
Alcoa Wheels in Australia come in 3 finishes and a patented surface treatment:
The Brushed finish option displays a clean, satin appearance and is a basic maintenance finish (machine finish). The wheel is non-reflective and finished on both sides.
HOW TO MAINTAIN ALCOA® WHEELS BRUSHED FINISH:
Rinse with warm water; preferably with a high-pressure cleaner
Dilute truck wash detergent in water.
Gently brush the detergent onto the wheel using a soft brush.
Rinse with clean water. Repeat steps if needed.
Dry the wheel.
LvL ONE® Finish
(Alcoa Wheels Product number ends with 7 e.g. ULT397, or 882517)
Wheels with LvL ONE® finish option are finished on both sides, polished once as they leave the factory’s precision machining process, resulting in a smoother and glossier surface than wheels that are Brushed finished.
They can be used in steer, drive and trailer application, and are supplied either inner polished, outer polished, or polished on both sides.
LvL ONE® is an advanced finishing technology developed by Howmet Aerospace, of which Alcoa Wheels is a product brand, and wheels finished with LvL ONE® technology have a high end, near polished appearance that is six times brighter than any brush finished forged aluminium wheel in its class.
LvL ONE® wheels require the usual procedure when it comes to maintenance: a regular clean with mild detergent and a soft brush, and if a shiny surface is desired, polishing is needed.
HOW TO MAINTAIN LvL ONE® FINISH:
Rinse with warm water; preferably with a high-pressure cleaner.
Dilute truck wash detergent in water.
Gently brush the detergent onto the wheel using a soft brush.
Rinse with clean water. Repeat steps if needed.
Dry the wheel.
If polishing, apply a small amount of polish to the wheel.
TIP: Spread the polish evenly over the wheel in sections using a dampened cloth and polish (polishing in sections will prevent the polish from drying out).
Mirror Polish
(Product number ends with 1, 2, 3 e.g. ULT391, 776472, or 882523)
The name says it all: Mirror Polish is a premium polished finish so clear, it reflects like a mirror – the highest polish and reflectivity on the market.
Mirror Polish finish option is available on wheels for light trucks, heavy trucks, buses and trailers.
Part numbers ending in 1 are Mirror Polish outside only.
Part numbers ending in 2 are Mirror Polish inside only.
Part numbers ending in 3 are Mirror Polish both sides.
HOW TO MAINTAIN MIRROR POLISH:
Rinse with warm water; preferably with a high-pressure cleaner.
Dilute truck wash detergent in water.
Gently brush the detergent onto the wheel using a soft brush.
Rinse with clean water. Repeat steps if needed.
Dry the wheel.
Apply a small amount of polish if the wheel has become dull.
TIP: Spread the polish evenly over the wheel in sections using a dampened cloth and polish (polishing in sections will prevent the polish from drying out).
Dura-Bright® EVO
(Part Numbers end in DB e.g. ULT392DB, 882513DB, 77642DB)
Proprietary Dura-Bright® EVO surface treatment is the way to go if you want to never polish your wheels again.
The patented surface treatment penetrates the surface of the aluminium to form one composite that becomes an integral part of the wheel, so cracking, corrosion and filiform can’t get underneath as is seen with acrylic and other coatings.
“Dura-Bright® EVO wheels are Alcoa’s easiest-to-maintain wheels,” says Michael Nichols, National Sales Manager for Alcoa Wheels in Australia. “They can stand up against the harshest weather and road grime, and even cleaning agents that are known to corrode and dull standard commercial truck, trailer and bus wheels.”
Dura-Bright® Surface treatment offers up to 3 times more resistance to chemicals, including hydrofluoric acid found in the toughest truck wash cleaning agents, and with the ability to be cleaned in a Ph environment 2-12, they stay shiny with regular truck cleaning products and even just soap and water.
The fact that they clean with just soap and water, along with Dura-Bright® wheels’ consistent shine without the need to polish are just two of their very attractive prospects for large fleets where well-presented equipment means maintenance labour and time costs can be considerable.
For highly regarded fleets like K S Easter and Corbet’s Group, for example, not only is a pristine fleet paramount to their business, but so is the time and money saved on maintenance. As a result, they standard spec Dura-Bright® wheels.
Available across a range of Alcoa wheels, including the lightest wheel in the market, the 18kg Ultra ONE®, this ‘finish’ not only supports the bottom line by offering lowered maintenance, but comes with all the premium Alcoa wheel benefits of:
their light weight (increased payload, better fuel efficiency),
their unmatched strength (proprietary MagnaForce® alloyis exclusive to Alcoa wheels and is 17% stronger than any other alloy in the industry),
their improved heat dissipation (extended tyre and brake life).
HOW TO MAINTAIN ALCOA® DURA-BRIGHT® WHEELS
This content requires certain cookies to function. Please accept cookies in order to continue. You may need to refresh your browser window afterwards.
Regular cleaning with a mild detergent will keep the wheels shiny, even after hundreds of washes and thousands of kilometres, reducing maintenance costs.
Dura-Bright® wheels look bright and shiny for years without polishing.
Download and print the Dura-Bright® Cleaning Guide below:
“Because Dura-Bright® wheels clean with a simple soap and water wash, they take less time to clean than standard brushed aluminium wheels,” says Michael Nichols.
“They don’t need to be polished, so there is a lot of value added to the bottom line in saved cleaning time and costs.”
HOW TO TELL WHICH FINISH YOUR ALCOA WHEELS ARE
You might be looking for what finish of Alcoa wheel you have if you are wanting to purchase a replacement, or match the other wheels on your equipment.
The Alcoa Wheels roll stamp and label will tell you everything you need to know.
The part number is the best way to identify which finish option the wheel has, with the last number of the 6 digits being the indicator.
For example, if the wheel part number ends in a 7, the wheel is a LvL ONE® finish.
Part numbers ending in 1, 2 or 3 denote a Mirror polish finish.
Font or Steer applications end in the number 1.
Rear or Drive Applications and Trailer wheels will end in a 2.
Dura-Bright® wheel part numbers end in DB (remember, these are treated with a proprietary surface treatment).
Authentic Alcoa wheels all have the iconic Alcoa Wheels label on them, which helps distinguish between various finishes.
Brush Finish will have the well-known BLUE Alcoa Wheels label.
LvL ONE® wheels have ‘LvL ONE®’ on the BLUE Alcoa Wheels label, and Mirror polished wheels have ‘Mirror Polish’ on the BLUE Alcoa Wheels label.
Dura-Bright® wheels have a BLACK Alcoa Wheels label with ‘Dura-Bright® EVO’ written on it.
Download and print our handy Guide to Alcoa Wheels Roll Stamps and Labels below:
See How Alcoa Wheels Premium Finishes Stack Up Against Competitors
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
October 28, 2021
FTE is Paying Forward Durability, Reliability and Fuel Efficiency to Customers
In 1976, Grant Smyth and Gunte Janke’s one year old business, Fiberglass Transport Equipment (FTE), built their first temperature-controlled unit for Castlemaine Bacon who wanted a cash sales van to sell bacon and smallgoods direct to public.
Over 40 years later, and building close to 300 units per year, Victoria-based FTE has become known as the market leader in the Australian temperature-controlled road transport equipment environment, manufacturing and supplying lead trailers, semi-trailers and rigid vans for the food industry, mainly.
Carting fresh produce, groceries and meat products, as well as pharmaceuticals and other temperature sensitive products, FTE’s customers from all over Australia rely on what makes the company the most sought after in the industry: superior thermal efficiency with their unique bonded construction of bodies that provides fewer thermal bridges.
Fully bonded or moulded, the bodies of FTE’s temperature-controlled units are free of any mechanical type fasteners, which means no thermal ‘leakage’ from drilling of holes to hold panels together.
For food product companies who need to travel in temperatures in the high 30s and often 40s, it is imperative that the produce is kept at a steady temperature without risk of this thermal leakage compromising the refrigeration.
This Ron Finemore Transport PBS 26 Pallet trailer on Alcoa Wheels was added to their upwards of 500 trailing equipment pieces used for their regional and inter-capital city line-haul of food, produce, manufactured goods and bulk liquids.
The unique bonded construction of all FTE equipment also results in outstanding fuel efficiency and a K value that surpasses the Australian Standard.
What makes a company like FTE retain their market leader status is their commitment to the highest quality, which means continuously assessing the body strength, durability and design of equipment across all parts of production, including the wheels.
One thing that hasn’t changed for a couple of decades, is FTE’s preferred wheel of choice: The Alcoa® Wheel.
A match to their exceptional equipment standards with not only its strength, durability, and fuel efficiency, Alcoa wheels are but backed by over 75 years of innovation and commitment to equally high standards.
This pride in their customer service and in the upkeep of their modern fleet of over 120 prime movers and wide range of trailing equipment is evident in their choice to rely on Alcoa wheels for 15+ years, and to now standard spec Alcoa Dura-Bright® wheels.
According to Andrew, they present well, they suit the tough, remote environments Corbet’s equipment work in and they add value to their fleet.
Martin Brower commissions temperature-controlled equipment on Alcoa wheels from FTE for their deliveries into McDonalds stores.
“Alcoa have been a staple to the transport industry and our business,” says Jason Cunningham, National Sales Manager for FTE. “The reliability and consistency we get from their product range helps provide the best possible equipment for our customers.”
With fuel efficiency being one of the hottest topics right now, and FTE’s equipment built to run efficiently, Alcoa wheels are an integral addition to the mix as they are relied on by companies like FTE to help their customers save more fuel, improve tyre performance, carry more load, and reduce maintenance costs.
The Alcoa wheels and FTE partnership goes back well over 25 years, with FTE becoming one of Alcoa’s earliest customers when aluminium wheels were first introduced to Australia.
Customers of FTE today specify a combination of polished Alcoa wheels and Dura-Bright® wheels, according to their preference:
The Alcoa Ultra ONE® 22.5” x 8.25” wheel is the lightest and strongest in the market, weighing in at just 18kg, compared with an average 23kg of other standard aluminium wheels, while being able to carry the same load, which means the equipment produces better fuel efficiency and more payload.
Alcoa Dura-Bright® wheels wheels take lowering maintenance to another level with their patented surface treatment that actually penetrates the surface of the aluminium and forms one composite to prevent filiform corrosion and ultimately, won’t peel or crack, which is often seen in coated wheels.
For fleets that uphold an impeccable image, like many who commission FTE to build their temperature-controlled equipment, Dura-Bright® wheels make it easier by saving labour and time with their consistent shine without the need to polish.
Available across the Alcoa Wheel range, including the 18kg Ultra ONE® wheel, Dura-Bright® wheels combine strength, light weight and low maintenance for an all-round solution to support the bottom line.
“FTE and Alcoa Wheels have been a good match for decades, and our commitment to innovating to give our customers the best products in the market continue to align,”says Ross Simmons, Managing Director of Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia.
26 Pallet PBS unit custom-built for Jim Pearson Transport by FTE for their line-haul of large freight volumes of refrigerated goods between Sydney and Brisbane.
What’s FTE bringing into the market right now? As PBS vehicles are the hot topic, FTE is using its expertise in the temperature-controlled equipment space to trial different combinations and axle configurations to further meet their customers’ requirements.
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
October 1, 2021
The Top 3 Causes and Damaging Effects of Corrosion to Wheel-Ends (and The Bottom Line)
Corrosion on wheel-ends damages the quality and performance capabilities of heavy-duty equipment, and if left for too long it can put drivers and fellow motorists at risk.
Not only that, but the repair and maintenance costs to fleets and owner-operators can severely impact the bottom line.
In the most concentrated spots, corrosion gradually burns through the metal to form abrasions, cracks, and holes. When corrosion affects areas such as wheel ends, the results are damage to the quality and performance capabilities of the vehicle in question.
“Because of where wheel-end components are situated on trucks and trailers, they’re exposed to corrosion more than any other part of the equipment,” says Shannon Girard, Marketing Manager for Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia.
“We’ve thus invested in innovating the vHub Technology so that our customers can prevent premature failure of wheel-end components and avoid risking the safety of their drivers, while also keeping the bottom line healthy.”
On wheel ends, corrosion is caused by harsh road chemicals, salt and other corrosive substances coming into contact with the surfaces of metal hubs.
In wetter or humid areas of Australia, water can also make its way to the hub via moisture, puddles, and rain.
The Top 3 Causes of Wheel End Corrosion
1. Moisture
One of the most common causes of wheel corrosion on wheel ends is moisture.
When there’s no warm weather to vaporise the moisture, we have a lot more condensation forming on wheel end components.
One way to tell that wheel-ends may be succumbing to moisture is on the mornings when the windows of trucks get fogged up.
Hot, enclosed environments with poor ventilation can also trap corrosive moisture, increasing chances of moisture being absorbed at the wheel end.
Liquid Petroleum Haulers, specifically, can see accelerated corrosion appear on vehicles due to the white foggy residue of the LP that can end up anywhere on the vehicle, including wheel-ends. That foggy residue, when combined with condensation, acts as a corrosion accelerant.
2. Rain and Puddles
In parts of Australia where rain can be heavy at times, puddles and swollen creeks can be hard to avoid.
When water splashes up it hits the various underside components of vehicles.
Even though the water will mostly dry off and drip away, it can still get trapped and that wetness can have a corrosive effect on the parts that comprise wheel-ends, especially if water makes its way between the fasteners.
3. Rock Salt
When contact occurs between rock salt and metals, the properties of the salt have a corrosive impact on the metal, and even on aluminium parts, the corrosive effects of rock salt can eventually take hold.
Corrosion becomes shows as discoloration and deformation appearing at given spots along a metal surface. The problem with corrosion is that it’s in and of itself symptomatic of a metal’s failure to retain its composition.
This poor metal health means that corrosion spreads easily. Depending on what corrosive substances the wheel-end is exposed to, as the condition lingers the corrosion affects adjoining surfaces.
Alcoa Wheels have released a proprietary technology, called vHub™ Bore Technology, that reduces the hub-to-wheel contact by 64% compared to the almost 100% of other aluminium wheels on the market.
Corrosion is reduced because there is less surface area available for corrosive agents to adhere to.
“Fleets that are not corrosion prevention focused find that they see a premature end to their wheels and tyres, which means they spend a lot of money on replacements,” says Shannon. “The impact of downtime, loss of money and risk of decreased safety make Alcoa vHub™ Bore Technology enhanced Ultra ONE® wheels a strong consideration.”
Alcoa vHub™ Bore Technology is available on Alcoa Ultra ONE® wheels.
3 Damaging Effects of Corrosion on Fleet Equipment
Reducing corrosion leads to a decrease in maintenance time and wheel-off costs for fleets and owner-operators.
1. Increased Friction
Lubrication on wheel-ends of trucks and trailers can easily get melted or washed away by puddles, moisture, heat, and salt, and without it, the grinding of metals produces friction, heat, and ultimately corrosion.
On Alcoa wheels with vHub™ Bore Technology, there’s less surface area exposed, so there’s less opportunity for corrosion to form across the area, making it easier to remove the wheel during scheduled maintenance or for tyre changes.
2. Damage of Metal Parts
On the wheel-ends of a tractor trailer, damage to metal caused by corrosion could lead to a breakdown of the wheels at any given time if the problem isn’t discovered or rectified.
The damage can quickly degrade any metal component that becomes heavily exposed to rainwater, moisture, or salt.
Whether the problem impacts one of the fasteners or the inner hub, the inevitable swift spread of corrosion can lead to holes and cracks forming in vital wheel parts.
3. Accidents Due to Mechanical Loss
Depending on the extent of exposure the equipment has, corrosion at the wheel-ends of a hauling truck can, in some cases, badly affect the wheels.
When this happens, the vehicle can become harder to steer and control as stiffness or shakiness takes hold.
If the corrosion breaks down one or more of the metal parts, drivers and other motorists on the road are put in danger if the vehicle suddenly falters in transit.
Because maintenance is easier and less time consuming on Alcoa Wheels with vHub™ Bore Technology, there’s less chance of putting off vital wheel-end checks that can save lives.
Listen to the Alcoa wheel experts Doug Mason, Dave Walters, and Mike Yagley bring their close to 100 years of experience and expertise in the transportation business to the conversation about Troubleshooting Wheel End Failures, over at the Behind the Wheels Podcast:
This content requires certain cookies to function. Please accept cookies in order to continue. You may need to refresh your browser window afterwards.
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
September 24, 2021
Custom Denning Electric Bus on Alcoa® Wheels Approved by TfNSW Procurement Panel
Custom Denning (whom many know by their previous name, Custom Bus) are driving public transport with their Element electric buses with a mission to build innovative high-quality buses made by Australians and using advanced manufacturing techniques to continually improve their processes.
The Custom Denning Element Battery Electric Bus (BEB) has been recently fully approved on the Transport for (TfNSW) procurement panel in the Zero Emission Bus category, as the NSW Government executes plans to transition the state’s fleet of 8,000 buses to zero emission technology.
Four prototypes of the Element BEB have been in service since November 2020, and initial orders have been placed with operators to enter service in the coming months.
“The Element BEB has been designed to replace standard diesel buses across Australia with as little as possible need for change to their operations,”says Grant Mascord, National Contracts Manager for Custom Denning.
“Electrical infrastructure may be required to be upgraded at the depots to enable the chargers to be installed.”
There are a number of features that make the Element BEB stand out from the rest:
BATTERIES BUILT TO SAVE ENERGY IN HARSH CONDITIONS
Solid-State Lithium Metal Polymer (LMP) batteries were fitted on the Element buses. This was done after extensive overseas trials were conducted on this type of battery.
The batteries feature a higher energy density per kilogram compared with standard lithium Ion batteries in use on other BEB’s. This allows for reduced weight of the overall bus.
This weight saving is transferred into better efficiency in operation of the bus and also allows for a potential higher load of passengers due to the overall weight of the bus being lighter.
The LMP batteries operate without the need for cooling systems, saving more weight. They also operate in a higher temperature window and this allows them to perform well in the harsher climates that are evident in Australia. This equates to a range on average in excess of 400km (~20 hours) on a full charge dependent on operation / application.
AUSTRALIAN MADE FROM START TO END
With Custom Denning building the bus from start to end, they were able to integrate the chassis and body into one complete structure and combine it with a stainless-steel frame to retain the strength required to accommodate the added weight of the roof mounted batteries.
The complete bus is built at the St Marys plant in NSW, creating local jobs.
“Because we build the complete bus in NSW whilst complying with Australian made accreditation, Custom Denning may have the highest Australian content of any Electric bus currently in the country, making this truly Australia’s Electric Bus,” acknowledges Grant.
LIGHTWEIGHT
“What we have is a bus that gives the lowest weight while maintaining the capability of enduring a 25-year life that is expected of a city bus, and meeting all ADR requirements,” says Grant.
By specifying Alcoa forged aluminium wheels instead of steel wheels, the weight of the batteries is further offset to enable the Element BEB to have a ~70 passenger capacity in addition to its lightweight integral design.
Calculations show up to 79kg weight saving with Alcoa Wheels compared to heavier steel wheel weights with the same dimensions and load rates.
The lighter Alcoa wheels not only offset the added weight of the battery, but they help extend battery life and improve range. According to US bus manufacturer, Proterra, it has been shown that for every ~150lbs (68kg) reduced, one extra passenger can be added, for example.
Alternatively, with battery energy density of 160 kwh, ~3 miles (4.8km) of range could be added.
SUSTAINABLE
1. Cleaner Air
With the Custom Denning Element battery electric buses being zero emissions vehicles, they will be helping NSW transport sector by reducing harmful air pollution that diesel exhaust emissions are known for.
Because zero emission vehicles don’t produce any tailpipe exhaust, smog and acid rain caused by the toxins in gasoline and diesel-fuelled ones is significantly reduced.
Cleaner air means better health for the community as a whole, as asthma and other health issues aggravated by poor quality air can be reduced, which in turn lowers the demand on government health resources.
It’s not only air pollution that’s considered in sustainable practice and important to community health; noise is a serious factor, too.
2. Less Noise
According to the World Health Organization, sound levels less than 70 dB are not damaging to people, regardless of how long or consistent the exposure is, however if we are exposed for more than 8 hours to constant noise beyond 85 dB we could be putting our health at risk.
Zero emissions vehicles like the Custom Dunning Element play an important role in reducing environmental noise in inner cities, where there can be a cacophony of sounds at any given time – from building works, traffic, emergency response vehicles, for example.
3. Recyclability
The environmentally friendly solid-state batteries on the Elemental contain no solvents, cobalt or rare minerals and capable of being recycled.
Alcoa Wheels are 100% recyclable. Recycling an Alcoa® Wheel at the end of its useful life will generate a piece of metal with exactly the same properties as the metal used to manufacture the recycled wheel. In the recycling process, almost all of the quantity of the material is preserved – and this process can be repeated almost infinitely.
4. Water Saving and Less Harsh Chemicals Put into The Environment
“What ties in really well with the sustainability of Custom Denning’s zero-emissions buses is not only the recyclability of Alcoa Wheels, but the choice to specify Alcoa Dura-Bright® wheels,” says Michael Nichols, National Sales Manager for Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia.
“Dura-Bright® wheels clean with a simple soap and water wash, and not only do they take less time to clean than standard brushed aluminium wheels, they don’t need to be polished, so there are less chemicals going into the environment and less water used.”
The patented technology offered by the Dura-Bright® surface treatment allows the wheels to stand strong against dirt and road grime, while keeping their shine.
Alcoa Dura-Bright® is available across most of the Alcoa wheel range, the premium Alcoa wheel benefits stay the same:
their light weight (increased payload, better fuel efficiency),
their unmatched strength (proprietary MagnaForce® alloy is exclusive to Alcoa wheels and is 17% stronger than any other alloy in the industry),
their improved heat dissipation results in extended tyre and brake life.
“Through local testing via the four prototype buses on the road since November 2020, we have been able to design and build a bus that meets the specifications required for operations in Australia, that suits the Australian conditions and that will benefit the transport sector for many years to come,”says Grant.
Take 20 minutes to listen to the Alcoa Wheels experts talk about how they broke into the bus (transit) market when it was all steel wheels, and how through listening to what their customers’ concerns were they were able to come up with the best solutions on the Behind the Wheels Podcast below.
This content requires certain cookies to function. Please accept cookies in order to continue. You may need to refresh your browser window afterwards.
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
September 16, 2021
Corbet’s Group Keep It Red, White and Dura-Bright®
When the Corbet’s Group name is mentioned, their immaculately presented fleet of trucks and trailers is what comes to the minds of most people, however Corbet’s are much more than just a trucking company.
The Gympie based family started business primarily in the logging and sawmill industry in the 1970’s, and nowadays have 10 family members actively working in the business as well as over 300 employees.
Corbet’s Group runs a modern fleet of over 120 prime movers with a wide range of trailing equipment across the diverse range of industries they operate in, including heavy haulage, cattle, fuel, aggregate, concrete, log and bulk commodity transport.
Andrew ‘Aussie’ Corbet, now General Manager of Corbet’s Group, recalls fondly working in the bush with his grandfather and father as a kid: “There was never a dull moment working with the old man, we all worked hard and respected the bush and the equipment. We had to get on and do the job,”he reminisces.
“My Granddad and Dad taught us kids the value of well-maintained equipment back then and this respect for the equipment we need for our line of work is still being taught today to our kids,”says Andrew.
This pride in their customer service and in the upkeep of their modern fleet of over 120 prime movers and wide range of trailing equipment is evident in their choice to rely on Alcoa wheels for 15+ years, and to now standard spec Alcoa Dura-Bright® wheels.
According to Andrew, they present well, they suit the tough, remote environments Corbet’s equipment work in and they add value to their fleet.
“Downtime costs money and results in disappointed customers,”says Andrew Corbet.
“Our equipment must be reliable and must be able to withstand the tough environments we work in, from timber plantations to outback properties to busy highways we trust our Alcoa Dura-Bright® wheels because they never let us down.”
Alcoa Dura-Bright® wheels are an innovation that no competing wheel has been able to provide a competitive answer to because it is a surface treatment and not a coating.
The patented surface treatment penetrates the surface of the aluminium to form one composite that becomes an integral part of the wheel so cracking, corrosion and filiform can’t get underneath as is seen with acrylic and other coatings.
“Dura-Bright® EVO wheels are Alcoa’s easiest-to-maintain wheels,” says Michael Nichols, National Sales Manager for Howmet Wheel Systems, Distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia. “They can stand up against the harshest weather, road grime and cleaning agents that are known to corrode and dull standard commercial truck, trailer and bus wheels.”
It also offers up to 3 times more resistance to chemicals, including hydrofluoric acid found in the toughest truck wash cleaning agents, and with the ability to be cleaned in a Ph environment 2-12, they stay shiny with regular truck cleaning products and even just soap and water – even after hundreds of washes and thousands of kilometres.
This, and Dura-Bright® wheels’ consistent shine without the need to polish are just two of their very attractive prospects for large fleets where well-presented equipment mean maintenance labour and time costs can be considerable.
Alcoa Dura-Bright® is available across most of the Alcoa wheel range, which means the premium benefits they are known for are not compromised:
their light weight (increased payload, better fuel efficiency),
their unmatched strength (proprietary MagnaForce® alloy is exclusive to Alcoa wheels and is 17% stronger than any other alloy in the industry),
their improved heat dissipation results in extended tyre and brake life.
“It’s really great to hear from the public compliments on our fleet and to be known in the industry as a company that has well maintained and well-presented equipment. It really makes all the hard work our team puts in worth it,” concludes Andrew Corbet.
Listen to the Alcoa wheel experts chatting about wheel coatings and surface treatments, including Dura-Bright® wheels, over at the Behind the Wheels Podcast:
This content requires certain cookies to function. Please accept cookies in order to continue. You may need to refresh your browser window afterwards.
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
September 3, 2021
5½ Logical Reasons for Lightweighting with Alcoa® Wheels
When you think of lightweighting, the obvious ‘fuel economy and improvement to freight efficiency gains’ may spring to mind, however it is fast becoming seen as a megatrend in the heavy vehicle transportation industry – especially with all eyes on its impact on air pollution.
According to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), what isn’t talked about enough is the impact that having fewer trucks carrying the same amount of payload has on the transportation industry as a whole – from economics to sustainability.
This is directly in line with the core mission of Alcoa Wheels – to innovate the lightest and strongest wheels in the market so that we can help transportation businesses lower their operating costs and drive up their bottom line, while at the same time meeting current emissions regulations.
Lightweighting can take place in various areas of the truck and trailer including the powertrain, axles and suspensions, wheel ends, drive shaft, chassis, 5th wheel, and more.
It is interesting to note that wheels are often a ‘last thought’ when fleets and OEMs are thinking ‘lightweighting’, however the weight gains are significant enough for them to be a strong contender in the movement to reduce equipment weight – especially when factored into an overall business growth strategy.
We’ve unpacked the 5 ½ most logical reasons for lightweighting with Alcoa Wheels below. We’ve said 5 ½ reasons, tongue-in-cheek, because there are 5 clear pros and just one con … that can be turned into a pro, depending on how you look at it.
5 PROS OF LIGHTWEIGHTING HEAVY-DUTY EQUIPMENT WITH ALCOA WHEELS
The new Alcoa Ultra ONE® 18kg Wheel is already helping fleets, owner-operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) reduce truck and trailer weight by up to 590 kg versus steel wheel options, and up to 100kg for a standard 22 wheel truck and trailer combination compared with other aluminium wheel options.
PRO 2: BETTER PAYLOAD
Every kilogram taken off a truck equates to a kilogram of payload that the truck can carry.
For example: Alcoa Ultra ONE® 22.5” x 8.25” wheels will create an extra ~440kg on standard 22-wheeler Tri Axle combination when switched from steel wheels of the same dimensions, so you can reduce your trips or carry more.
55 more 43” Flat Screen TVs (8kg each)
125 more chickens (weighing an average of 3.5kg)
535 litres more gasoline
190 more bricks (an average brick weighing 2.3kg)
440 more bunches of bananas (weighing an average of 1kg each)
2000 more cans of beer (each weighing 220g)
Did you know that you don’t have to switch from steel to save? Choosing Alcoa Ultra ONE® 22.5 x 8.25” wheels over the industry standard aluminium wheel of the same size will create an extra ~ 88kg.
Work out your savings by putting your numbers into our Payload Calculatorand see for yourself.
This payoff is taken very seriously in the Australian mining industry, for example, where a road train with a Tri Drive pulling 3 x Quad Axle Tippers gains an extra ~248kg by spec’ing the 18kg Alcoa Ultra ONE® wheel over other aluminium wheels in the market.
“What is not talked about enough is that understanding the true benefits of reducing heavy-duty vehicle weight is have fewer trucks carrying the same amount of payload.” – North American Council for Freight Efficiency
PRO 3: DRIVER RETENTION
Employee satisfaction is directly proportional to how long a person remains in a role, and it has been recorded in a 2016 survey of 6200 truck drivers at two large fleets that those who believed their safety was prioritised by their employer felt more valued and were more likely to stay in their jobs.
Alcoa Wheels create room to move so that driver amenities to enhance safety, for example, can be incorporated in the truck.
Driver retention means less money spent recruiting and training new employees due to high turnover of dissatisfied staff.
PRO 4: ADDED TECHNOLOGIES TO MEET REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES
Australian heavy vehicle industry is legally bound by existing Euro V noxious emissions standards. Fortunately, with our relatively clean air compared to larger countries like the US and China, transport companies save on the cost of needing to spec technologies designed to meet international noxious emissions standard which cost 3 to 5% more to produce.
However, as pressure mounts to join the rest of the world in combating climate change, fleets who want to contribute to sustainable strategies as a part of their vision and mission, by fitting aerodynamic devices, onboard payload monitoring technologies, idle reduction products, for example, will need to offset that weight to maintain their bottom line.
Alcoa Wheels offset the weight of these technologies, enabling fleets and owner-operators to not have to compromise on payload, for example.
PRO 5: SUSTAINABILITY
Reducing the number of trucks needed to haul the same quantities of freight has a substantial impact on sustainability.
Alcoa Wheels currently holds the patent for the strongest Aluminium Alloy in the heavy-duty vehicle wheel market. The Alcoa MagnaForce® alloy was introduced to the market in 2013 and, for the first time in 45 years, aluminium alloy had become the strongest yet, offering a 17% increase in strength over existing alloys only available to Alcoa Wheels.
The Alcoa Ultra ONE® wheel can carry the same load of 3,360kg as a previous 20.36kg Wheel, while being almost 2.5kg lighter!
Trucks that have to travel less haulage runs because they can carry more means less trucks on the road, which means cleaner air and healthier citizens (who are customers, employees, family members).
It was in 1968 that Alcoa set the industry standard when it launched its 6061 alloy for forged aluminum wheels. Alcoa’s 6061 material provided a strong, durable alloy, resistant to corrosion that is used to this day by all major forged aluminum wheel manufacturers.
Now, an alloy that’s 17% stronger – and exclusive to Alcoa Wheels only – is available. Engineered with the proprietary MagnaFroce® Alloy, Alcoa Ultra ONE® wheels offer the ultimate balance of strength and weight savings, allowing the heavy-duty transport industry to carry more load and save more fuel.
CONS OF LIGHTWEIGHTING WITH ALCOA WHEELS
CON: UPFRONT COSTS
It can be a daunting outlay spec a premium wheel when considering the lightweighting of a transportation company’s equipment, however, over the lifetime of the equipment the cost savings and profit gains are significant.
The Australian Government’s Instant Asset Write-off is turning this ‘con’ into a ‘pro’.
Read how specing or upgrading to Alcoa® Wheels makes financial sense.
While there are some other cons attributed to lightweighting, such as negative impacts on resale value, higher maintenance costs and redundant product testing that pertain to other lightweighting strategies (things like 13-liter engines, short and/or flat-topped sleepers, 6×2 axles, and less fuel tank capacity result in a lower resale value, according to NACFE), these are not applicable to Alcoa Wheels.
As far as we can tell, lightweighting isn’t going anywhere, with the pros far outweighing the cons.
“In the heavy vehicle transport industry, weight costs,”says Ross Simmons, Managing Director of Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia. “Being able to lighten a truck and trailer by potentially hundreds of kgs equals profit — it’s just that simple.”
Listen to the Alcoa wheel experts chatting about lightweighting with Mike Roeth of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) over at the Behind the Wheels Podcast:
This content requires certain cookies to function. Please accept cookies in order to continue. You may need to refresh your browser window afterwards.
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
August 15, 2021
4 Categories Aluminium Wheels Take the Prize Over Steel In For Lower Maintenance Costs
Experts love to dissect the topic of which wheel is better – Steel or Aluminium. They can be heard citing the various differences between the two metals, the advantages and disadvantages of each, right down to their respective manufacturing processes and performance out in the field.
The weight difference, of course, is the most obvious one. For example: the Alcoa Ultra ONE® 22.5” x 8.25” wheel weighs in at just 18kg vs an equivalent steel wheel at 28-37kg, and if you put that into a Payload Calculatoryou’ve looking at some pretty interesting numbers!
Another strong argument for aluminium wheels is in the lowered maintenance costs they bring to the table.
The impact of choosing steel over aluminium on maintenance expenditure, such as cost of refurbishing wheels, repairing damage, and replacing tyres and brakes prematurely is an important consideration when assessing ROI over the lifetime of heavy-duty equipment.
Wheel-offs cost businesses in time that trucks are off the road and not hauling loads, they cost in repair shop charges, and they cost in employee wages that could be paid towards more productive income-generating endeavours.
Here are 4 categories of maintenance benefits that Alcoa Wheels take the prize in over steel wheels:
1. Refurbishing
Because steel wheels generally require continuous refurbishing, such as removing rust, re-painting, touching up or other labour-intensive steps, many fleets need to include refinishing of steel wheels as part of their regular truck maintenance schedule.
Aluminium wheels, on the other hand, come up like new with a simple polish and, depending on the finish of the wheel, sometimes no polish at all.
The savings in workshop labour costs are increased by removing the need to purchase paint, rust remover, or to outlay large sums for powder-coating and its ongoing maintenance.
Because aluminium wheels are not painted like steel wheels, the cost savings recuperated from eliminating the need for spray paint and touch up are favourable.
“Every year equipment managers who are working with steel wheels in harsh environments have to dismount tyres, paint or touch up and then remount tyres in order to avoid the common rusty appearance found on many steel wheels,”says Ross Simmons, Managing Director for Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia.
2. Weathering Harsh Environments
By their very nature, truck and trailer wheels spend their entire lives exposed to the elements, and in many cases in Australia, in harsh and even hostile environments.
Steel wheels are well-known for flaking, chipping, or corrosion issues that the salt, road grime, and other outdoor elements can cause with each rotation of a wheel. The debris on the road and gravel on country and outback roads may also create damage that requires repairing.
Technologies today have advanced from liquid painting of steel wheels to powder coating that creates a non-porous surface that shields the wheels so there’s less overall damage from truck wheels being exposed in harsh environments than previously experienced.
Aluminium is durable from the start if properly maintained (thus without needing to be powder-coated), and now Alcoa Dura-Bright® Wheels take things to the next level.
The difference between Dura-Bright® Wheels and a conventional wheel coating is that Alcoa Wheels have engineered a surface treatment that penetrates the metal to form one composite – becoming one with the aluminium and increasing its resistance to corrosion by 10 times their previous Dura-Bright® range.
Dura-Bright® Wheels’ low surface energy and large contact angle mean that less dirt adheres to the wheel.
And, the best part is that they clean up with just soap and water. In Japanese tests, wheel wash time was reduced from 25 minutes to just 2!
These easy-to-clean benefits help to lower lifetime operating costs.
3. Strength
Did you know that a one-piece forged aluminium wheel is up to 5 times stronger than an equivalent steel wheel?
It’s been tested. In internal strength tests, when wheels are placed in a press and closed until the wheel deforms by 5cm, the Alcoa Wheel withstands a load of 71,000 kg before deforming, and the steel rim already deforms at 13,600 kg.
A wheel that is durable enough not to buckle and dent prevents costly wheel-offs and repair charges, not to mention reducing the number employees are exposed to safety risks of frequent wheel changes.
For example: Wheel changes 4 times a year due to damage compared to only once a year means you’ve 3 reduced your associated risk and costs by 3 times.
4. Heat Dissipation
Improved heat dissipation contributes to longer tyre and brake life and it’s a fact that aluminium dissipates heat better than steel – 15 times faster in fact!
As an important aside: in a heat event like a brake related incident, it is important to understand the impact the heat has on the wheel. An overheated wheel must be removed from service immediately. Learn moreabout the warning signs your wheels have overheated and how the Heat Indicator on your Alcoa Wheels works.
In Queensland, Brisbane City Council has seen the cost benefits of tyre life being extended and lowered break issues after fitting their buses with Alcoa forged aluminium wheels instead of steel wheels.
If we look at an inner city bus that stops-and-goes hundreds of times in a day, often in already high temperatures in the warmer parts of Australia, the benefit of aluminium giving up heat faster is key to taking heat away from the brakes thus keeping tyres from wearing out.
Because steel holds onto the heat, that heat continues to rise even after parking the bus. Aluminium wheels, on the other hand, help to quickly cool down the system and prevent heat damage to the brakes and tyres.
Longer brake and tyre life converts to dollars saved when they are replaced less often.
Listen to Alcoa wheel experts Doug Mason, Mike Yagely and Dave Walters talk about the age old debate that is Aluminium Wheels vs Steel Wheels over on the Behind the Wheels Podcast.
This content requires certain cookies to function. Please accept cookies in order to continue. You may need to refresh your browser window afterwards.
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
Product Literature
Latest news
Contact Us
Product Search
July 28, 2021
How Alcoa® Wheel Technology and Innovation Is Forging the Future of Transport
Alcoa® Wheels didn’t stop at the invention of the forged aluminium wheel in 1948.
We have continued to stay at the leading edge of innovation and are using our wheel technologies to help forge the future of the transportation industry.
New technologies such as electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, along with decarbonization initiatives, fuel emissions regulations, green gas house emissions standards, and sustainable city transportation are having an impact on how fleets operate.
Vehicles are getting heavier due to the technologies required to meet climate change driven standards, when in the transport industry every kilogram counts.
The Future is Electric
We have seen a range of prototypes, demonstration trucks, and commercially available hydrogen fuel-cell and plug-in electric vehicles come onto the market.
Bollinger and Toyota in North America, Tata in India, and BYD and Chanje in China have introduced prominent new 2019 and 2020 models.
Both Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks started producing electric trucks in 2019, and Scania released two battery electric city distribution trucks in early 2020.
Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, took the Volvo FL Electric for a drive on his visit to Volvo Australia Headquarters in 2021.
Big changes are on the horizon for the future of the transport industry, with Daimler Trucks committing in October 2019 to sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2039 and Volvo Trucks announcing in late 2020 its intention for all of its trucks to be fossil fuel free by 2040.
What do Alcoa Wheels have to do with electrification of vehicles?
It’s all about light weighting.
The environmental impact of battery electric vehicles is significantly lower than vehicles with an internal combustion engine, according to a life cycle assessment (LCA) of distribution vehicles published by Scania in 2021.
This means that lighter wheels are becoming a more and more important consideration as we move towards a more sustainable future.
“The push toward electrification in the industry now is driving the light weighting crusade with batteries currently being very heavy,” says Michael Nichols, National Sales Manager of Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor of Alcoa Wheels in Australia.
Fitting lighter wheels not only offsets the added weight of the battery, but they help extend battery life and improve range.
A good example is shown in the bus segment where one OEM notes, “Weight needs to be reduced to get maximum battery capacity and passenger loading while respecting the various regulations (local, state, and federal).
“For every ~150 lbs (~68kg) reduced, one extra passenger can be added. Alternatively, with Battery energy density of 160 Wh/kg, ~3 miles (~4.8km) of range could be added.”
“The term ‘innovation’ is thrown around a lot nowadays,” says Nichols. “But when it comes to Alcoa Wheels, our 70+ years of innovation has resulted in real benefits for the customer – lighter weight, stronger wheels with less fuel costs…and now, lower carbon emissions.”
The new Alcoa Ultra ONE® 18kg Wheel is already helping fleets, owner-operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) reduce individual truck and trailer weight by up to 590 kg versus steel options, and up to 100kg for a standard 22 wheel truck and trailer combination, compared with other aluminium wheel options.
The Future Is Aerodynamic
If you thought that aerodynamics was just for airplanes, you would have been right…a few years ago. Nowadays, the transport industry on the ground are seeking to streamline fleets with aerodynamic solutions as the mega trends in sustainability continue to grow.
With the cost of diesel going up, and with increased government activity to reduce greenhouse gases, interest in aerodynamics is becoming a much talked about topic in land transportation.
Aerodynamics reduces air drag which means a lowered fuel consumption and therefore CO2 emissions and is becoming popular for fleets.
For long-haul operators, there’s a definite advantage to streamlining with aerodynamic products, and fleets are doing it through trial and error at the moment, according to Dave Walters, manager of warranty and field service for Alcoa Wheel Products, who acted as chairman for the Technology and Maintenance Council’s (TMC) Recommended Practice (RP) 261, Considerations for Aerodynamic Wheel Covers over in the US.
Doug Mason, Alcoa Wheels Global Technology Manager (pictured) shares the following example to highlight the trial and error: “A fleet that adds a trailer skirt might see 5 percent savings.
They might then decide to add another component that should provide an additional 2 percent savings, but only realise 4 percent instead of seeing a total 7 percent in savings.” Mason explains: “The interaction between the two components did change the airflow, but because of the complexity of the truck and trailer designs themselves, the addition of the second aerodynamic device may have actually created more drag.”
Mike Yagley, global program launch manager for Alcoa Wheel Products says, “The aerodynamics of trucks are just so complex, and the best data out there … belongs to the fleets. They know exactly what they get for the aerodynamics.”
What do Alcoa Wheels have to do with aerodynamics?
In order to improve aerodynamic performance equipment are added to the vehicle, which all add weight.
Alcoa Wheels, as the lightest and strongest in the market, are considered by fleets and OEMs to help offset the additional weight from the aerodynamic equipment without compromising on the load capacity.
Larger fleets may spec Alcoa Wheels as standard across their equipment, as this provides a stable and consistent measure while trying new technologies to lower emissions and meet standards.
Howmet Aerospace, manufacturer of Alcoa Wheels, is at the forefront of what is working in the field of aerodynamics, and what wheel experts like Mason, Walters and Yagley are seeing is that the benefits of aerodynamic products in the future, especially wheels, will far outweigh the setbacks of the current ‘test and measure’ phase – such as proper installation of aerodynamic devices, choosing the right ones, or ensuring they don’t damage parts of the vehicle to which they’re mounted.
Alcoa Wheels’ innovative wheel technologies will continue to forge the future of the transport industry as it adjusts to demands to become more and more sustainable.
Make Sure It’s An Alcoa® Wheel
To spec your wheels, ring 1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
1800 955 191 to talk with our wheel experts, or fill out a contact form and we will reach out to you to answer your questions and discuss your specifications.
