Accuride Corp. is producing aluminum wheels at its Monterrey, Mexico, plant, following a transfer of a machining line to that operation from its Erie, PA, plant, earlier this year. The $13-million project was announced last November, and according to the company it makes Accuride de Mexico the only single-source supplier of steel and aluminum wheels for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles in that country.
It’s also the first Accuride plant capable of producing wheels in both metals. The Monterrey plant has been producing steel wheels since 1999 and has about 400 workers.
Accuride Corp. manufactures commercial vehicle wheels, wheel-end components and assemblies, truck body and chassis parts, and other commercial vehicle components marketeds under the Accuride, Brillon, Gunite, and Imperial brands.
"This expansion makes our Monterrey facility Accuride's first plant capable of producing both steel and aluminum wheels. In addition to serving Mexico 's growing aluminum wheel market, the new capacity in Monterrey positions us closer to our customers' expanding footprint in Mexico and the Southeastern United States," stated Accuride president and CEO Rick Dauch.
Dauch said the project demonstrates Accuride’s commitment “to produce products our customers need, where they need them.”