Apexrim

Leading manufacturer of wheels, brake discs, brake calipers, and shock absorbers.

Quality Control

Phase 1: Incoming Material Inspection

Raw Material Certificate Verification: This serves as the first line of quality control, ensuring high-quality source materials. Verify material certificates for aluminum ingots/bars to confirm their grades (e.g., 6061-T6, 6082) meet specifications and include valid chemical composition reports and mechanical property reports.
Spectral Analysis: Composition Analysis Perform rapid composition analysis on incoming materials using a spectrometer to ensure precise compliance with alloy specifications (e.g., magnesium, silicon, copper content), eliminating material mix-ups or composition deviations.
Ultrasonic Testing: This is a critical step to prevent subsequent forging issues Aluminum rods undergo ultrasonic testing to detect internal hidden defects such as gas bubbles, shrinkage cavities, and cracks. This is a critical step to prevent subsequent forging issues.

Phase 2: Process Inspection

Post-Forging Process Initial Visual Inspection: Inspect forging defects such as surface cracks, folds, or peeling on the forging blank.
Dimension Sampling Inspection: Using tools such as calipers and gauges, verify that the macro dimensions of the forging blank fall within the specified control range.
Hardness Testing: This is a critical inspection item. Randomly test the hardness of the wheel hub using a Brinell or Rockwell hardness tester to ensure it meets the process requirement (e.g., 6061-T6 typically requires ≥95HB). This is one of the core indicators for ensuring wheel hub strength.
Metallographic Analysis: Periodically sample materials for microscopic examination in the lab to assess microstructure. This determines whether heat treatment was proper, grain size meets standards, and identifies issues like overheating.
Post-Machining (CNC) First Article Inspection: After each batch or tool change, perform comprehensive dimensional measurements on the first completed wheel. Only proceed with mass production upon confirmation of compliance.
In-Process Inspection: Quality inspectors periodically sample products on the production line, checking critical dimensions such as: PCD (pitch circle diameter), center bore, mounting surface flatness, bolt hole diameter/depth, etc.
Air Tightness Test (Optional but Critical) The wheel hub undergoes a pressurized air retention test to detect any minute leaks, ensuring it is suitable for use with tubeless tires.

Phase 3: Pre-Surface

Treatment Inspection : 100% Visual Inspection 100% Visual Inspection 100% Visual Inspection Under intense lighting, technicians meticulously examine every corner of the wheel hub for any surface defects such as machining marks, impact damage, or micro-pores.
Full Dimensional Inspection: Eliminate Surface Defects Utilizing a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), the finished wheel hub undergoes comprehensive dimensional measurement, including all mounting dimensions, contour dimensions, runout (related to dynamic balancing), etc., ensuring 100% compliance with drawing specifications. This is standard practice for premium brands.

Phase 4: Final Inspection of Finished Products

Visual Inspection: No defects Check paint/plating surfaces for smoothness, uniformity, absence of color variation, sagging, orange peel, impurities, or bare spots.
Clear and Accurate Markings : Verify brand logos and markings are correct and clearly visible.
Dynamic Balancing Test : Mount the wheel hub on a dynamic balancer to measure its unbalance (in g·cm). Apply counterweights at specific hub locations to achieve standard tolerance. Excessive unbalance causes steering wheel vibration during high-speed driving.
Air Tightness Inspection (Re-test) : Re-test all completed wheels for air tightness to ensure no new damage occurred during transportation or painting.
Performance Testing (Sampling Destructive Testing) National/International Standards Mandatory testing conducted per national standards (e.g., GB/T) or international standards (e.g., JWL, VIA, TÜV). Typically performed per batch or at regular intervals.
Radial Rolling Fatigue Test: Simulates vehicle load operation by applying rated load and high-speed rotation to the wheel hub, testing its fatigue resistance.
Impact Test: Simulates vehicle potholes or curb impacts by striking the bead seat and rim with a heavy hammer from a specified height, evaluating its impact toughness.

Phase 5: Shipping Inspection

Packaging Inspection: Verify label information accuracy. Inspect packaging materials (e.g., bubble wrap, plastic bags, cardboard boxes) for integrity and proper placement to ensure wheels remain undamaged during transit. Confirm label information accuracy.
Document Verification: Quality inspection reports, certificates of conformity Ensure each wheel has a corresponding certificate of conformity and each shipment includes complete quality inspection reports.
Final Inspection Sampling: Sampling Inspection Randomly sample finished products from packaged lots for final visual inspection and critical dimension verification.