Wolfrace Alloy Wheels
Since 1971 Wolfrace Alloy Wheels have been a market leader in aftermarket alloy wheels. From the early days of the "Slot Mags", to the current range of alloy wheel styles, the name of Wolfrace has always been synonymous with style, quality and flexibility.
Distribution of Wolfrace Wheels has been expanded throughout the world into an international distribution network.
By having four factories strategically placed globally, it gives Wolfrace the capability to manufacture in excess of one million wheels per annum. This enables Wolfrace Wheels to be distributed world wide through a selective sales and distribution network.
All Wolfrace Alloy Wheels are manufactured to meet with stringent European, Japanese and International standards. On offer are fitmants that strike no compromise on appearance and performance.
How Wolfrace Alloy Wheels Are Made.
The raw material, aluminium ingot, is checked in by the Good Inwards and given a batch number. From there it is taken to the melting area, where the aluminium is melted in furnaces. Other materials such as silicon, are then added to produce the required alloy. Once this has been done the alloy is then degassed, after which a sample is taken from the molten metal and tested in the metallurgy laboratory.
From the melting area the alloy is taken to the casting area where the molten alloy is poured into low pressure casting machines. These are then checked for the correct temperature before casting can commence.
Once this has been done the alloy is then checked by the casting operator for any visual defects. If the casting meets the quality guidelines it is then stamped with the operators number and the melt number.
From the casting area the wheel is then passed to the x-ray department where all the wheels are checked for any large area of shrinkage and solid matter inside the casting. If either of these are found, the casting is rejected and returned to the foundry for melting down. The next process is proof-machining where batch sampling techniques are used for the wheels that are machined on the front face. The selected wheels are diamond turned and checked for microporosity. Microporosity is evident where small gas holes have permeated the casting and spread over a large area. If microporosity is found to be above acceptable limits all wheels are scrapped and returned to the furnaces.
The next process is to heat treat the wheels to strengthen them. Wheels are placed in a heat treat furnace and raised to a very high temperature for four hours, after which they are then quenched in water. The resultant drastic change in temperature hardens the metal. Once the wheels are heat treated they are passed onto the machining area, where all the outside profile, mounting face and center bores are turned and drilled. The wheels are then 100% pressure tested with either air or water to check for any leaks that could cause the tyre to deflate. Following pressure testing the wheel is passed onto a double headed drilling machine where the valve holes are drilled. The next operation is the drilling of the bolt holes which are positioned from the valve hole.
The wheels are then moved to the painting area where they are loaded onto a rack which moves them through a seven stage pre-treatment swarf. This is repeated with the colour coat then, finally, a clear coat of lacquer is applied to the front face.
The wheels are now complete and are sent for final inspection where each wheel is further checked far any visual defect before passing onto the dispatch area for boxing and dispatch either to Wolfrace Alloy Wheel distributors and stockists, such as Topgear, or for warehousing by Wolfrace Wheels in the UK.
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