Accuride Corp. has announced plans to make an investment of about $75 million to its North American business in 2012 to strengthen product availability, quality and reliability; upgrade its manufacturing processes; and improve customer service. Accuride will invest $55 million to its steel wheel production capacity and $20 million into its aluminum wheel production capacity.
The company says its investments support its position as a leading supplier of steel and aluminum wheels to the commercial vehicle aftermarket, and plans to build upon the company’s $35 million investment in 2011 to increase its aluminum wheel production capacity.
“Accuride is committed to being a reliable and dependable supplier of steel and aluminum wheels and wheel-end components for our OE and aftermarket customers,” says Rick Dauch, Accuride president and chief executive officer. “We made solid progress in boosting our production capacity last year, and are stepping up our investments to extend and accelerate that progress throughout 2012. These investment plans further demonstrate our continuing commitment to improve product quality and ensure availability to meet growing demand by our customers and the industry.”
Accuride also has replaced more than 70 percent of its organizational leadership in the past year as part of an 18-month commitment to restoring operational excellence, says Dauch. The company plans to create improved capacity and inventory for the aftermarket, and has adapted a regional sales approach and created a distributor advisory council as its first steps.
The company says its first phase targets new machining lines and related equipment in the Accuride Wheels business and already is under way. A second phase involves improvements at Accuride’s Gunite operations.
