Alcoa Fastening Systems Donates $25,000 in support of University of Michigan’s Solar Car Project

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS) is continuing its gold-level sponsorship and support of the award-winning University of Michigan Solar Car Team that has won 4 national championships in the last 10 years. In addition to continued financial support with a gift of another $25,000 this year, AFS provides technical support, installation tools, and a great number of highly engineered fasteners usually reserved for high tech aerospace applications including the recently developed Ergo-Tech® and Spin-Lok™ fastening systems. "We are very happy to play a key role in the success of the U of M program," said Rick Sharpe, SVP of Aerospace Customers and Marketing for AFS. "This fine young team continues to push the envelope in design, integration of highly engineered materials, and advanced assembly techniques which is what we specialize in, so it is a natural fit. Plus, we hope to entice some of their bright engineers and business students to join the aerospace industry and AFS upon graduation," Sharpe added.

“This fine young team continues to push the envelope in design, integration of highly engineered materials, and advanced assembly techniques which is what we specialize in, so it is a natural fit. Plus, we hope to entice some of their bright engineers and business students to join the aerospace industry and AFS upon graduation”

The U of M Solar Team is busy at work on their next generation vehicle "Continuum," and AFS anticipates many more championships and years of collaboration to come. For more information about the team, visit their web site at: www.umsolar.com

Alcoa Fastening Systems, a business unit of Alcoa (NYSE:AA), is a leading worldwide designer and manufacturer of fastening systems, specialty fasteners, components, and installation systems for aerospace and commercial product assembly. Headquartered in Torrance, California, the company has 6,600 employees, and manufactures at 19 locations in 9 countries. AFS also operates 7 worldwide distribution/logistics centers.

For more information about Alcoa Fastening Systems, visit www.alcoafasteners.com. For information about its complete line of Aerospace Products, please contact Ms. Anne Brown, Manager, Global Marketing Communications, Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].