ITTES: Alcoa launches Ultra ONE

Aluminium specialist and truck wheel manufacturer, Alcoa, has launched what it claims is the lightest truck wheel on the market

Alcoa has unveiled its new Ultra ONE truck wheel, which it says is almost 2kg lighter than its existing 22.5-inch by 8.25-inch wheel.

Alcoa says that at 18.3kg it’s the lightest truck wheel of its type available, saving operators around 40kg per truck and trailer.

The key to the Ultra ONE’s light weight is its recently developed Magnaforce alloy – a new composition that Alcoa says offers a 17 per cent increase in strength over existing alloys along with unprecedented weight savings. It’s the first change in Alcoa’s alloy composition since 1968.

The Ultra ONE will be available in a full range of Alcoa finishes and is covered by Alcoa’s usual five-year limited warranty.

Managing Director for Alcoa Wheels, Peter Williams, said the Ultra ONE’s benefits were clear.

“At 18.3kg it’s 2kg lighter than the standard wheel, which is going to give operators more fuel savings, less greenhouse emissions, and a better payload,” he said.

Williams said the product should be here in the next three or four months.

“The issue at the moment is making the Magnaforce – it’s not making the wheel but making the alloy to make the wheel,” he said.

“At the moment there’s limited supply but we estimate we’ll have wheels here on the ground in June or July, and in the second half of the year we’ll slowly build that up.”

While pricing is still to be finalised, Alcoa anticipates the Ultra ONE will only attract a very modest price premium.

ITTES: Alcoa launches Ultra ONE

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