Accuride Developing Lightweight Gunite® Wheel End Components
January 26 2016 - 5:45PM
Business Wire
- Advanced lightweight brake drum
technology for commercial and military vehicles
- Weight-saving benefits aid compliance
with upcoming EPA greenhouse gas regulations
Accuride Corporation (NYSE:ACW) – a leading supplier of
components to the global commercial vehicle industry – discussed
its recently acquired patented metal matrix composite (MMC)
technology during its news briefing at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week
’16. Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch explained the central
role the MMC technology plays in the company’s research and
development of advanced lightweight Gunite brake drums and wheel
end components.
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Accuride developing advanced Gunite
lightweight brake drum with recently acquired patented metal matrix
composite (MMC) technology. (Photo: Business Wire)
Accuride acquired the MMC technology assets from Century-3 Plus,
L.L.C. in 2015 as part of its commitment to develop lightweight
Gunite wheel end components capable of delivering substantial
weight, fuel and operating cost savings. The initial development
program – creating high-performance, lightweight Gunite-brand brake
drums – is an integral part of Accuride’s component lightweighting
initiatives to help the commercial vehicle industry comply with
upcoming Phase II greenhouse gas regulations posed by the U.S.
EPA.
“Over the past few years, we have invested in processes and
technologies that help our customers remain competitive and
compliant,” Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch said. “Through
our lightweight MMC brake drum development and wheel lightweighting
programs, we’re focused on creating industry-leading technologies
that provide our customers with solutions to the requirements of
increasingly stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations.”
The expected benefits of the lightweight Gunite MMC brake drum
in development include:
- Significant weight reduction;
- Longer product life;
- Reduced stopping distance;
- Improved performance; and
- Increased payload.
Patent Protected Brake Drum R&D Underway
Accuride’s MMC technology combines highly-engineered cast
aluminum with a selectively reinforced MMC wear surface to form a
durable and resilient yet lightweight patent protected brake drum.
The drum is well-suited to a range of commercial vehicle,
off-highway and military applications where weight savings is
paramount, yet without sacrificing performance or durability.
At approximately 61 lbs., the patent protected MMC aluminum
brake drum Accuride is developing is capable of delivering
significant weight reduction – as much as 100 lbs. per axle over
standard cast drums. That represents an approximately 300 lb.
savings for a typical 3-axle Class 8 tractor. The lightweight MMC
brake drum also has demonstrated more rapid heat dissipation,
improved braking performance and a longer lifespan than traditional
cast drums.
Accuride anticipates an 18 to 24-month development ramp-up to
commercialization of the lightweight drum technology.
About Accuride Corporation
With headquarters in Evansville, Ind., USA, Accuride Corporation
is a leading supplier of components to the global commercial
vehicle industry. The company’s products include commercial vehicle
wheels; wheel-end components and assemblies; and specialty
cast-iron components for a range of agricultural, construction and
mining, and oil and gas equipment applications. The company’s
products are marketed under its brand names, which include
Accuride®, Accuride Wheel End SolutionsTM, Gunite®, Gianetti
RuoteTM and BrillionTM. Accuride’s common stock trades on the New
York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ACW. For more
information, visit the Company’s website at
http://www.accuridecorp.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005802/en/
Accuride CorporationMedia Relations:Timothy G. Weir, APR,
812-962-5128Director of Public Affairs, Communications &
Marketingtweir@accuridecorp.comorInvestor Relations:Todd
Taylor, 812-962-5105Vice President and
Treasurerttaylor@accuridecorp.com
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