World-first tech reinvents the wheel

High-performance wheel specialists HRE Wheels have combined with 3D Printing firm GE Additive to create a new titanium wheel which promises to be lighter and more efficient than conventional rims.

Named HRE3D+, the project tested the capabilities of 3D printing, including the manipulation of titanium within extremely intricate designs.

Alan Peltier, HRE president, says the project is "a glimpse into what the future of wheel design holds”.

“[It allows] us to push the boundaries of wheel design beyond anything possible with current methods,” he says.

The wheel was constructed with a fine electron beam fusing titanium powder layers, creating a solid object.

Due to the nature of titanium, the wheel is extremely light while maintaining structural integrity. 

This could make it an attractive option for performance brands searching to make cars lighter and stronger.

HRE also claims the 3D printing process is much more efficient than traditional methods. 

“With a traditional Monoblok aluminium wheel, 80 per cent of material is removed from a 100-pound forged block of aluminium to create the final product,” the brand says.

“With additive manufacturing, only five per cent of the material is removed and recycled”.

The technology demonstrates that 3D printing has the potential to become a prominent tool in wheel design.

It allows more intricate shapes than conventional manufacturing processes, encouraging designed to experiment with new styles.

Many aftermarket brands are experimenting with 3D printing, while brands such as Porsche are using it to produce replacement parts for classic models.

Wheels have become an area of development for high-end performance cars. Brands such as Ferrari, Porsche, Koenigsegg and Ford offer lightweight carbon fibre wheels on flagship models.

Titanium wheels could be the next must-have for the world’s most exclusive cars.