Sumitomo Metals Develops World’s Lightest Al Wheel

Sumitomo Metal Industries released the worlds’ lightest aluminium wheel for truck and bus, Tough Bright, which conforms to new ISO, applied since April 2010. The weight of the wheel is 9-13% less than traditional products. Sumitomo Metals reduced the weight by the improvement in fatigue strength and stiffness. Applying Tough Bright has the advantage regarding improvement of fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emission reduction.

Heavy truck with Tough Bright has around 170 kilograms lower weight than truck with steel wheel. The fuel efficiency improves by up to 2%, which is equivalent to around 1.9 tonne per year of CO2 reduction for each truck, according to the test result by Japan Automobile Research Institute.

Applying Tough Bright for super single tire, which can be replaced to double tire, the weight of three axle trailer decreases by around 540 kilograms per unit including tire weight compared with trailer with double tire and steel wheels.

Sumitomo Metals is the Japan’s largest truck and bus aluminium wheel maker. The firm produces the wheel in Osaka Steel Works.

Sumitomo Metals was honored for the quality control of light weighted welded H-beam and hot rolled sheet to Toyota Home by Toyota Motor for 5 years in a row and Toyota Motor awarded the special prize when Sumitomo Metals is the only firm, which has continued no stock out, no customer’s complaint and no delay in the shipment in 5 years.