Alcoa is investing US$13 million to expand its wheel manufacturing plant in Europe, to meet growing demand for its lightweight, durable, low-maintenance aluminum truck wheels.
The expansion of the Székesfehérvár, Hungary facility will enable Alcoa to produce twice as many Dura-Bright EVO surface-treated wheels in Europe by early 2015, compared with current production levels.
“Demand for Alcoa’s forged aluminum wheels continues to grow in Europe, as emissions regulations drive up the need for stronger, lighter and easier-to-maintain wheels that increase payload, reduce maintenance costs and enhance sustainability,” said Tim Myers, president, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products. “Additional capacity at our manufacturing facility in Hungary positions us to capture this growth.”
The Dura-Bright EVO surface-treated wheel is 10 times more resistant to corrosion primarily caused by road salts and weather elements. 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.
Construction on the production line expansion began in January 2014, with completion expected in early 2015. It will create 35 new permanent jobs and approximately 215 temporary jobs during construction. The Hungarian government will contribute US$4.4 million toward the construction through its Regional Operative Program, a government-led economic development initiative.
Commenting on the importance of Alcoa to the Hungarian economy, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szíjjártó, said, “One of the most important players of the Hungarian-American economic cooperation’s success story is Alcoa, bringing innovation-based, high added-value production into Hungary.”