Alcoa’s New 14” LvL ONE™ Wheel to Help Fleets Slash Fuel Costs
CLEVELAND--Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products has added another timely, money-saving member to its LvL ONE™ line. The new 14-inch LvL ONE wide base wheel weighs 8 pounds less than competitive aluminum wheel options.
The 14-inch LvL ONE weighs only 62 pounds, so outfitting a complete tractor/trailer rig puts 64 pounds less weight on the road than a comparable 14-inch aluminum wheel. Long-haul operators still running on steel wheels can realize a staggering 1,344-pound reduction in rig weight by converting to the new 14-inch LvL ONE aluminum wheels. According to independent fuel studies, the conversion can result in fuel savings as high as 7 percent.
“The new wide base wheel provides an unequalled combination of strength and light weight,” said Tim Myers, President of Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products. “For the vast majority of long-haul fleets already running on aluminum, that means more payload per trip, less fuel, or a profitable combination of both. And it couldn’t come at a better time for trailer and tanker fleets moving perishable goods, fuel and other heavy payloads. Today more than ever, every pound and every penny adds up.”
Besides being the lightest and strongest 14-inch wheel, the newest LvL ONE entry is also the brightest. It is at least six times brighter than competitive wheels in its class with a 50-brightness rating, documented by using standardized test methods for the measurement of high gloss surfaces.
The new 14-inch LvL ONE polished option wheel also qualifies to wear the black Alcoa Dura-Bright® Surface Treatment logo, a labor-saving plus. Dura-Bright wheels keep their sparkle without polishing, helping each rig in every fleet project a sharp, clean, well-maintained image year after year after year.
“No other wheel can top the looks of the new 14-inch LvL ONE,” Myers said. “More importantly, it brings fleets a dual weight-and-fuel savings advantage every long-haul operator needs.”
To find out how much money a fleet can save, use Alcoa’s new on-line Web tool, CalcuLighter™. Recently introduced, this free service provides instant and exact financial data just by entering a few specific details. To use CalcuLighter or for more product details, visit www.alcoawheels.com.
About Alcoa Wheels and Transportation Products
Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, serves the commercial vehicle, automotive, and defense markets with products used in a range of applications including cast and forged aluminum wheels, aluminum space-frames, specialized vacuum die cast products, niche products such as Dura-Bright® and Dura-Flange® wheels and M-Series™ medium truck wheels, as well as a variety of other aluminum components for these markets. AWTP is composed of three divisions: Transportation Products, Commercial Vehicle Wheels, and Automotive Wheels. It employs 2,800 people at 30 locations worldwide.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world leader in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina combined through its active and growing participation in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa’s businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions and forgings, Alcoa also markets its Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems. The Company has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for seven consecutive years. More information can be found at: www.alcoa.com.