Aluminum Wheels Production
Fundo Wheels owns approximately 53,000 m² of land in Hoyanger, Norway, of which 13,500 m² are developed with manufacturing facilities. The manufacturing process consists of alloying, low-pressure die-casting, heat-treating, machining and painting. It is a streamlined process, based on in-house technology and on technology available in the market. During the second half of 2004, the production capacity will reach approximately 1.3 million OEM Wheels per year.

The main input to the manufacturing process is molten primary aluminum, which is supplied in three-ton-ladles from the Hoyanger metal plant of Hydro Aluminum AS, a company owned by Norsk Hydro ASA. The molten is alloyed with silicon metal and other alloying elements before being transported by forklifts to the casting area. The casting area consists of 24 low-pressure die casting machines and four deburring lines. After deburring, the wheels are examined by automatic x-ray machines before heat treatment. Approximately 90% of the production is heat-treated. After machining, parts enter the paint area where they undergo: pre-treatment, power painting and wet painting, followed by an automatic helium leak tester. The plant is highly automated, equipped with robots. The wheels are continuously tested with respect to metallurgy, strength, dimensions and corrosion.

The manufacturing of 1.3 million OEM Wheels per year uses approximately 13,000 metric tonnes of aluminum. Two percent of the aluminum cannot be recovered and is sold as scrap. Finished products are transported to customers by truck. Fundo Wheels is an OEM of custom-made cast aluminum wheels for European car manufacturers. Fundo Wheels’ operations are based in NorWay in the town of Hoyanger, located approximately 455 km northwest from Oslo. The Corporation indirectly owns a 47% equity interest in Fundo Wheels.

The production process includes the alloying of metal, low-pressure die-casting, heat-treating, machining, and painting. Fundo Wheels inspects and x-rays its production to ensure high quality standards are met. The main input to its process is liquid primary aluminium which is supplied in molten form from a nearby smelter also located in Hoyanger.

Fundo Wheels has its own research, development and design organization, which uses state of the art technologies in developing wheels for the high end of the aluminium wheel OEM market. Fundo Wheels conducts marketing and sales of its products directly to its customers and is recognised for its high quality products and service.

Quality Assurance
All of Timminco’s products are produced under our Quality Assurance Program, which adheres to stringent process and quality controls throughout all steps of production.