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Alcoa Wheel Products Showcases Fuel Savings Solutions at Efficient Diesel Workshop; Aluminum 14-Inch Wide Base Wheels Provide Significant Weight and Fuel Savings

Posted on: Tuesday, 18 July 2006, 12:00 CDT

Alcoa Wheel Products showcased and presented its fuel savings solutions during the recent Efficient Diesel Workshop, sponsored by the Columbia Williamette Clean Cities Coalition in Portland, Oregon. The workshop educated attendees on how to save fuel and money with efficient technologies, incentives and financial programs for their commercial vehicles.

One of these programs was the Environmental Protection Agency's new SmartWay Transport Program, that includes cost saving technologies that can save fuel and money, reduce air pollution and cut carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. In addition, the workshop was the official rollout for the Cascade Sierra Solutions (CSS). CSS supports the SmartWay Transport Program and will be an information center on the I-5 corridor for available new technologies and resources to incentive/financial packages that can improve operating costs.

Alcoa Wheel Products highlighted its 14-inch wide based aluminum wheel which at only 71 lbs. provides significant weight savings while still delivering a maximum load rating of 12,800-lbs. A set of 14-inch wheels used in conjunction with super-single tires can save over 300 lbs per axle as compared to dualed steel wheels and tires, thus providing more than 1200 lbs in weight savings. Through the use of these wheel and tire combinations fleets have experienced fuel savings in the range of 3 to 7 percent.

"At this time, fuel savings is a goal many are trying to achieve," said Curtis Samford, Alcoa Wheel Products' global vice president of marketing. "Through products and technologies such as this and others that we offer, Alcoa continues to reinforce our commitment to the environment by providing our customers and the markets we serve with unique and innovative options to reduce weight, emissions, and fuel costs."

Benefits of the Alcoa 14-inch wide based wheel include:

-- Lighter weight wheels

-- 3 to 7 percent fuel savings possible

-- Easier maintenance with fewer wheels and no inside duals

-- Requires lower PSI for better pavement life, ride comfort and stability

-- 4 drive/trailer wheels versus 8 drive/trailer wheels

-- No inner duals to check proper air inflation

-- Valve stems easily accessible without inner duals

-- Visual identification of under inflation easier without inner duals

-- Better accessibility to vehicle for inspection

-- Better air flow across hub and brake assembly reducing heat

For more information on Alcoa 14-inch wide base wheels or Alcoa Wheel Products, call 1-800-242-9898 or visit www.alcoawheels.com.

About Alcoa Wheel Products

Alcoa Wheel Products is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and employs more than 2,000 associates in seven locations globally. The Alcoa business unit manufactures cast and forged aluminum wheels for the heavy truck, automotive, and motorcycle industries.

About Alcoa

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active 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, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 129,000 employees in 42 countries and has been named one of the top three most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com .

Source: Business Wire

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