• With additions, Accuride offers industry's lightest-weight range of standard aluminum wheels 

  • Company displaying new Duplex and Steel Armor(TM) wheels in booth 1832 at TMC show 

NASHVILLE,Tenn. - March 10, 2014 - Accuride Corporation (NYSE: ACW), a leading supplier of components to the North American commercial vehicle industry, introduced and is commercializing two newly qualified 22.5-in. x 14-in. Accu-Lite® Duplex(TM) aluminum wheels that are up to four pounds lighter than the earlier models they replace.  Accuride expects to have its customer base transitioned to the new wheel versions early in the second quarter of this year.  Adding these lighter products to its portfolio means that Accuride offers the lightest-weight range of standard aluminum wheels, based on total weight, to the North American commercial vehicle industry.  The new Duplex wheels are already on the road in fleet service and available for specification from Accuride's OEM customers.  Accuride executives announced the new products at the ATA Technology and Maintenance Council 2014 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Nashville.  

"When it comes to giving fleets the ideal solution for their application, Accuride is the only wheel manufacturer capable of offering alternatives in either steel or aluminum," said Rick Dauch, Accuride President and CEO.  "Along with our advanced new Steel Armor(TM) coating for steel wheels, these new Accu-Lite® Duplex(TM) aluminum wheels give fleets even more ways to save money by lowering total tractor-trailer weight, boosting fuel economy and payload, trimming maintenance costs and a host of related benefits.  It comes down to our commitment to deliver value and reliability for our customers."

Redesigned for Weight Savings - Renumbered for Ease of Use
Accuride's new Duplex(TM) wheels - identified with part numbers 41142 and 41140 - will be the lightest-weight 22.5-in. x 14-in. Duplex(TM) aluminum wheels on the market today and replace previous part numbers 41660 and 41016, respectively.  By reengineering the design of these prior Duplex models, Accuride reduced the weight of PN 41660 by three pounds and PN 41016 by four pounds.  The wheels were assigned new part numbers to make it easier to identify them as zero-outset (PN41140) or two-inch-outset (PN41142) wheels.  Both 10-hand-hole, hub-piloted aluminum wheels are rated to support a maximum load of 12,800 pounds.

Shine On
Accuride ensures a superior finish by offering polish as standard on all of its Accu-Lite® aluminum wheels.  Both new 14-in. Duplex(TM) wheels are available with Accuride's standard polish (SP) or extra-polish (XP) finishes.   That means easy-to-clean aluminum wheels that turn heads and shine longer, mile after mile.

The Wide-base Duplex(TM) Advantage
Accuride's Duplex(TM) aluminum wheels enable fleets to control costs through improved fuel efficiency or increased payload capacity by replacing traditional dual wheel sets with one wide-base 22.5-in. x 14-in. wheel on tandem-axle tractors and trailers.  Improving fleet operating efficiency was never easier than with the installation of Accu-Lite® aluminum Duplex(TM) wheels.  These new wheels reduce maintenance time and labor costs because the technician is only mounting or dismounting four wheels, not eight.  Without the inner wheel to service, inspecting the wheel-tire assembly and inflating the tires is fast and efficient.  

Key features and benefits of the new 14-in. Accu-Lite® aluminum Duplex(TM) wheels include:

  • Reduced tire-wheel assembly weight - Reduced fuel expense, increased payload capacity and greater return on investment. 

  • Replaces a dual set of 22.5-in. wheels with one 22.5-in. x 14-in. wheel - Improved ride performance and handling, reduced maintenance costs (fewer assemblies) and less downtime. 

  • Consistent quality - Advanced, state-of-the-art machining and polishing processes ensure consistent quality, reliability and a superior high-gloss finish. 

  • Forged-in durability - The one-piece forged aluminum wheel design provides increased strength and eliminates the porosity that can permit cracks or corrosion to occur. 

  • Made in the USA and Mexico - American-made at Accuride's aluminum wheel facility in Erie, Pa., and manufactured at its Monterrey plant for Accuride's fleet customers in Mexico. 

Accuride at TMC 2014
Visit Accuride's booth (#1832) at the TMC show to learn more about the Company's weight-saving new 14-Inch Accu-Lite® aluminum Duplex(TM) wheels and the cost-advantages of its advanced new Steel Armor(TM) coating for steel wheels.  See the complete range of steel and aluminum wheels and wheel-end components from Accuride at the ATA Technology and Maintenance Council 2014 Annual Meeting and Exposition, March 10-13, 2014 at Music City Center in Nashville.  

Additional Information  
To learn more about the performance and appearance of Accuride's new Accu-Lite® aluminum Duplex(TM) wheels and its full range of Accu-Lite® lightweight aluminum wheels, visit www.AccurideWheelEndSolutions.com.  

About Accuride Corporation
With headquarters in Evansville, Ind., USA, Accuride Corporation is a leading supplier of components to the North American 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®, 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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Note to editors:  To download 300 dpi jpg images of the Accuride 14-in. Accu-Lite® aluminum Duplex(TM) wheels, visit the Accuride News Room at http://www.accuridecorp.com/news/ and click on the link to this news release.

Media Relations Contact

Timothy G. Weir

Director of Public Affairs

(812) 962-5128 | tweir@accuridecorp.com


Investor Relations Contact

Todd Taylor

Vice President/Treasurer

(812) 962-5105 | ttaylor@accuridecorp.com


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This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Accuride Corporation via Globenewswire

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