Accuride Announces Aluminum Capacity Expansion Plans
21 January 2000
Accuride Announces Aluminum Capacity Expansion Plans; Expansion Linked to Growing Industry Demand For Forged Aluminum Wheels
EVANSVILLE, Ind.--Jan. 20, 2000--Accuride Corporation, North America's only manufacturer and supplier of both steel and aluminum heavy/medium wheels, announced today that it is investing $22.4 million, for the expansion of its aluminum production capacity and product line offerings.As a result of this investment, Accuride anticipates that by the third quarter of 2000, it will achieve a 90 percent increase in aluminum wheel production capacity as compared to 1998 shipments. Accuride plans the first incremental increase in capacity to be in place during the first quarter of 2000.
"In the past three years, we have doubled our shipments of aluminum wheels," said Brad Schultz, Heavy Vehicle Operations Vice President / Sales and Marketing. "Forecasts predict that demand for aluminum wheels will steadily increase throughout the upcoming years."
"To meet the industry's increasing demand for aluminum wheels, our capacity expansion plans include the installation of a 7,000 ton press, and associated spinning, heat treating, machining, and polishing equipment," explained Terry Keating, Senior Vice President & General Manager Heavy Vehicle Operations.
The Company also noted that the facility enhancements will allow Accuride to continue to expand its aluminum wheel product line to virtually mirror the Company's steel wheel product offerings. "This increased manufacturing flexibility will allow us to offer our customers a full product line in both steel and aluminum," added Schultz.
Accuride Corporation is North America's largest manufacturer and supplier of wheels for heavy/medium trucks and trailers. The Company offers the broadest product line in the North American heavy/medium wheel industry and is the only North American manufacturer and supplier of both steel and aluminum heavy/medium wheels. Accuride Corporation also produces wheels for buses, commercial light trucks and sport utility vehicles, and for passenger cars. Accuride Corporation has steel wheel operations in Henderson, Kentucky; Columbia, Tennessee; London, Ontario, Canada; and in Monterrey, Mexico. Accuride Corporation is also involved in the production and sales of aluminum wheels, and in a commercial tire and wheel assembly joint venture in Springfield, Ohio, and Talbotville, Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit Accuride's website at http://www.accuridecorp.com.