Sep. 29, 2006 — Through the teamwork of the American Iron and Steel Institute's (AISI) Wheels Task Force and senior transportation design students from the College for Creative Studies (CCS), students will create unique steel-intensive wheel designs that could influence future vehicle production.

AISI's Wheels Task Force/CCS student design project kicked off on September 12, 2006, challenging CCS transportation design students to develop a new generation of 18- to 20-inch highly styled steel wheels. The project, which is integrated into the normal CCS curriculum, presents student designers with a rare opportunity to influence the automotive industry’s growing styled wheel market.

Partnering with top wheel suppliers, OEMs and steel companies for a five-week intensive course project, CCS students will gain exceptional real-world experience by working with the same technology and background information typically only available to OEM wheel designers.

Students will study successful technical developments in steel wheels, such as the Hayes Lemmerz Flex Wheel and the ArvinMeritor SuperSpoke wheel, along with the permanent trim and removable trim products that have enabled the release of high-vent-area steel wheel designs on several makes and models. The CCS wheels project will highlight the significant gains that steel wheels can deliver to automakers through styling, higher profit margins, lower warranty costs, competitive weight and ruggedness.

Unveiling of the new styled steel wheel design is slated for October 11, 2006.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology.

The Automotive Applications Committee (AAC), a subcommittee of AISI’s Market Development Committee, focuses on advancing the use of steel in the highly competitive automotive market. With offices and staff located in Detroit, cooperation between the automobile and steel industries has been key to its success. This industry cooperation resulted in the formation of the Auto/Steel Partnership, a consortium of DaimlerChrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. and the member companies of the American Iron and Steel Institute / Automotive Applications Committee's Wheels Task Force Member Companies:

• Accuride Corp.
• AK Steel Corp.
• ArvinMeritor Wheels Division
• DaimlerChrysler Corp.
• Dofasco Inc.
• Ford Motor Co.
• General Motors Corp.
• Hayes Lemmerz International
• Hess Engineering, Inc.
• Lacks Wheel Trim Systems
• McKechnie Vehicle Components
• Mittal Steel USA
• Nucor Corp.
• PPG Industries Inc.
• Severstal North America Inc.
• United States Steel Corp.