Accuride Corporation has completed its initial expansion of aluminum wheel production capacity in Mexico.


The company's expansion, first announced in November 2010, involved the transfer of an existing machining line from its Erie, Pa., plant to its Accuride de Mexico facility in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon to support expanding customer requirements for aluminum wheels in the region.

"Accuride's successful launch of new aluminum capacity at our Monterrey facility demonstrates our commitment to produce products our customers need, where they need them," said Rick Dauch, president and chief executive officer of Accuride. "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."

Accuride de Mexico's aluminum wheel capacity expansion began in early 2011 and was completed in June with the successful transfer of an existing machining line from the Accuride Wheels Erie, Pa. facility. The new line, which is now operating at full capacity, establishes Accuride de Mexico as the country's only single-source supplier of both steel and aluminum wheels for the local medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle market. The 226,000 square-foot facility is located on approximately 22 acres on the north side of Monterrey. It was built in 1999 and employs approximately 400 people.

Company officials made the announcement during the Expotransporte ANPACT 2011 show at Expo Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico.