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2001 News Release
March 1 
March 1, 2001
Large-Diameter Aluminum Wheels with a Highly Integrated Design
March 1, 2001Large-Diameter Aluminum Wheels with a Highly Integrated Design
Tokyo, Japan, March 1, 2001-Hitachi Metals, Ltd., announced today that it has developed and commenced sales of a new line of large-diameter aluminum wheels with a highly integrated design, known as S-Cube™.
1. Background
Aluminum wheels form one of the pillars of Hitachi Metals' Automotive Components Division. Owing to car buyers' growing emphasis on style and automakers' pursuit of marketing strategies targeting product uniqueness, diameter size and design have become major factors in the market for aluminum wheels.Hitachi Metals leads the world in the design, manufacture, and sale of aluminum wheels. In recent years, it has also enhanced its developmental capacity through the Integrated Design-In System (IDIS), which enables fast development times and harnesses such information technologies as CAE.
Leveraging these technologies, Hitachi Metals has succeeded in developing a line of large-diameter aluminum wheels with a highly integrated design. These new products have already been sold to Mitsubishi Motors Corp., where they are used as the standard wheels for the limited edition Lancer Evolution, Version VII. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Company has begun marketing these exciting new products to other automobile and components manufacturers.
Moreover, Hitachi Metals is also exploring the sale of these new products through the MY-Wheel.com Internet store operated by one of its subsidiaries.
2. Product Features
S-Cube™ is a revolutionary line of aluminum wheels that simultaneously achieves highly integrated design, large-diameter size, and reduced weight. The reduced weight of these wheels contributes to superior fuel efficiency by lightening the load on automobile suspension systems. It also contributes to a more enjoyable ride by enhancing maneuverability. Furthermore, sharply defined contours achieved in the S-Cube™ line bring unique design to the medium of aluminum wheels, a feature that was unattainable until now.3. About S-Cube™
(1)What is S-Cube™S-Cube™, connotes the triple use of the letter "S" in the phrase Super Sharp Shape. In addition to achieving sharp image designs, the S-Cube™ line also represents a solution to both durability challenges that very often occur in large-diameter and flat tire wheels as well as weight-saving requirements.
(2)Size:
16 to 20 inches (Production Range:13 to 20 inches)
(3)Special Features:
1) In pursuit of optimum product shape using CAE technology, Hitachi Metals maximized molding temperature control through cooling control techniques and breakthroughs in mold construction, thereby achieving savings in weight and sharp contour design. (The S-Cube™ line is 20% to 30% lighter than previous aluminum wheels from Hitachi Metals.)
2) The establishment of technology that greatly enhances surface quality means that the S-Cube™ line is well suited to high-grade surface finishing treatments.
4. Related Patents
Five patents pending.5. Sales Plans
While closely observing demand trends, Hitachi Metals intends to replace 20% to 30% of its overall wheel sales with S-Cube™ through 2003.6. Manufacturing and Sales
Manufacturing: Kumagaya Works (City of Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture)Sales: Automotive Components Division
For further information, contact:
| Hitachi Metals, Ltd. Automotive Components Division, Kiyotaka Sato Tel:+81-3-5765-4249 Hitachi Metals, Ltd. Corporate Communications Group Officers in charge: Shoji or Masuoka Tel: +81-3-5765-4079 |
