With over 25 years of experience in wheel manufacturing, AST is proud to continue to offer a large selection of our USA-made rotary forged wheels for our wheel manufacturing customers. We specialize in high quality, high strength wheel blanks, and offer short runs and rapid delivery.
Rotary Forged Wheel Manufacturing
Why Rotary Forged Wheels?
Rotary forged wheels are the top of the wheel performance pyramid because they are the strongest and lightest wheels on the market.
Rotary forged wheels are manufactured much like conventionally forged wheels, with the addition of the material being rotated at a high speed (rotary) during the forging process.
Rotary forging alters the molecular structure of the metal and gives better control over grain structure. It also allows wheels to be created with less material (thereby reducing weight) without sacrificing strength. Reduction of materials also means less cost for wheel manufacturers, who can then pass those savings on to their customers.
The Rotary Forging Process
A look at the rotary forging manufacturing process explains why these wheels are the go-to choice for many racing professionals and enthusiasts who require strength and performance.
The rotary forging manufacturing process makes a difference in the structure of the metal itself; it determines how much load capacity, stiffness (or rigidity), and durability the wheel will have.
The nature of rotary forging requires extreme heat and intense pressure in order to form an aluminum billet into a wheel. This changes the structure of the aluminum itself. The metal is now more dense, with a grain that follows the shape of the wheel. This translates into:
- A lighter wheel: less alloy required to form the shape and maintain strength.
- A stronger wheel: the density of the metal eliminates failure points due to porosity and the manufacturing process itself increases both the tensile and yield strength.
- A more durable wheel: The density allows the wheel to hold up better against misuse and overloads, and indication of increased fatigue strength.
- Greater safety: a study by Alcoa shows that in general, forged wheels do not fail in impact tests.
- More freedom in design: with increased strength at a lighter weight, designers have more flexibility to customize the appearance of the wheel, including finish.
For more information about the real difference between cast, flow formed, and fully forged wheels and the manufacturing process, read our blog here.
Large Selection of Forged Wheels
We offer the largest selection of center forgings for multi-piece wheels, as well as monoblocks (one-piece) for trucks, drag race, and street vehicles.
We also specialize in multi-piece wheels for heavy-duty commercial utility vehicles as well as military utility vehicles.
Why AST?
Unmatched Design Flexibility
- Modular Tooling Approach for customer cost savings
- Ability to easily offer different designs, offsets, and widths
Short Lead Times
- Set up for short runs
- Flexibility on scheduling
Quality & Commitment to Customer Service
- U.S.-based customer service
Dedicated sales reps
FAQ's
It is the strongest wheel you can buy, and is lightweight.
Due to the custom manufacturing process, forged wheels have a higher cost.
Professionals in competitive racing as well as car enthusiasts who spend a lot of time on the track, want the best in performance, quality, and safety. For any situation where the wheels are under duress, forged is always the best choice.
To sum up, when quality, safety, and performance are at stake, if the wheels are subjected to sudden impact, a forged wheel resists cracks. Also, when damaged, a forged wheel can be repaired.
Rotary forged wheels are manufactured much like conventionally forged wheels, with the addition of the material being rotated at a high speed (rotary) during the forging process.
Rotary forging alters the molecular structure of the metal and gives better control over grain structure. It also allows wheels to be created with less material (thereby reducing weight) without sacrificing strength. Using less material also means less cost.
The load index of a wheel tells you how much weight it can carry.
The primary concern is safety. Also, for cases like race car drivers, the lighter the wheel, the better the performance.