ALCOA PROVIDES LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM COMPONENTS AND WIRING SYSTEM FOR NEW GM Z06 CORVETTE

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ALCOA PROVIDES LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM COMPONENTS AND WIRING SYSTEM FOR NEW GM Z06 CORVETTE
05 May 2006 - Alcoa

Alcoa announced that it has been sourced for various new lightweight aluminum components and the power and signal distribution system essential for the new General Motors high-performance Corvette Z06, scheduled to debut later this year. Alcoa provides the aluminum extrusions for two, full-length aluminum frame rails and the roof-bow, which are main structural elements of the vehicle's aluminum spaceframe. The aluminum components are produced at Alcoa's automotive units located in Cressona, Pennsylvania and Auburn, Indiana.

Alcoa provides the aluminum extrusions for two, full-length aluminum frame rails and the roof-bow, which are main structural elements of the vehicle's aluminum spaceframe. The aluminum components are produced at Alcoa's automotive units located in Cressona, Pennsylvania and Auburn, Indiana.

A key structural element of the body structure of the Z06 is the full-length aluminum frame rails, which weigh approximately 50 pounds each and are 6 inches in diameter and 14 feet long. "The frame rails are some of the largest ever used for this type of application," said Dave Dobson, President of Alcoa Engineered Products. The aluminum rails were engineered as a performance enhancer over the base C5 steel rails.

Alcoa agreed to supply extrusions that would fit into GM's existing hydroforming process. "By working closely with our customer on their specifications, GM did not need to retrofit their tube bending, or hydroforming equipment, to accommodate aluminum," Dobson continued. "Hydroforming of Alcoa's large diameter seamless tube represents an exciting new application for both Alcoa and GM."

In addition, Alcoa's AFL Automotive unit designed and manufactured the power and signal distribution system used in the Z06. "AFL Automotive designed the distribution system for the 2005 Corvette; we enhanced that system to meet the high-performance requirements of the Z06," said Bob Alexander, vice president of Alcoa and AFL Automotive.

Use of weight-saving materials, such as aluminum, helped the ZO6 Corvette break the four-second barrier from 0 to 60, with a time of 3.7 seconds.

http://www.alcoa.com

About: Alcoa
Alcoa is a leading producer of primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium and alumina and is active in all major aspects of the industry. It serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production, and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses as a single solution to customers. The company has 120 000 employees in 41 countries.

In addition to aluminium products and components, Alcoa also makes and markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap, Alcoa wheels, and Baco household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks.

Alcoa makes a very sustainable product: almost 70% of the aluminium ever produced is still in use, equalling 480 million tonnes of a total 690 million tonnes manufactured since 1886.

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