It was for the first time in India that Alcoa forged aluminium wheels were featured on an OEM bus at the Bus & Special Vehicles Expo’11. Till now Alcoa wheels were OE fitted on buses manufactured and exported out of India.Said Mr. Janardhanan Iyer, Regional Sales Manager - India, Alcoa Wheel Products: “It’s a great feeling to see the first bus in India fitted with Alcoa forged aluminium wheels. We’ve been talking to customers in India for long, and the response has been quite good. Customers do understand the advantages of using our wheels in terms of better fuel efficiency, better tire life and improved drive comfort. These Dura-Bright wheels are five times stronger than steel wheels and are capable of maintaining their bright look, day after day, for years, together with minimal maintenance using soap & water. It is the ideal fit for Indian fleet operators who are looking not just for efficiencies but for better aesthetics too to attract the typical Indian passenger.”
The wheels fitted on the bus are Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology for tubeless tyres. These wheels are given a patented surface treatment to keep their shine. Globally this makes it a popular choice with OEMs and fleet owners alike.
The Alcoa forged aluminium wheels come with built-in features like light weight, high strength, excellent heat dissipation and high precision machining, which allow for fuel saving, carbonfoot print reduction, brake & suspension life saving, high safety, tyre durability, etc. These wheels are half the weight of a normal steel wheel. In a multi-axle bus fitted with eight wheels, it could convert into weight reduction of 150 to 175 kg. The wheels ensure three-five per cent fuel saving.
“In addition to Dura-Bright, we also have the standard Mill Finish wheels, Mirror Finish (with reflective looks) wheels, Dura-Flange (for Rim Flange protection) and Super Single options for buses, trucks, tankers, trailers and tractors and thus can cater to the needs of both Indian fleet owners and OEMs”, Mr. Iyer added.
