Lighter weight and fuel efficiency are the two main concerns currently topping the list of considerations for most car manufacturers. This has resulted in a situation where steel is no longer the first choice material in making car bodies and parts. Despite their varying benefits, the materials currently being used and developed are however, less malleable and more difficult to repair as compared to steel.
Aluminum alloys are one of the most popular materials currently being used in car production. Looking at the 2013 Mercedes SL, it would be difficult to imagine that this magnificent piece of engineering has been mostly put together using recycled high strength aluminum. The use of these materials has however resulted in greater performance and fuel efficiency in this car despite having a smaller engine.
The use of aluminum in cars is not an entirely new affair. The material was previously used for bumpers, some engine components, deck lids, hoods, cylinder heads and intake manifolds. Weight savings were noted to be between 40 to 50 percent when using aluminum.
Today's engineering advancements have seen the production of aluminum intensive automobiles such as the 2013 SL Mercedes which has its structural components made from this material. Collision repair for cars that have aluminum structural components is one of the situations that demand brand specific collision repair.
Due to the special qualities possessed by aluminum, this material does not respond in a similar manner as steel when being worked on. Special equipment and techniques need to be used so as to successfully straighten, weld and repair it. The fact that there are different types of alloys, with a variety of strengthening treatments applied only serves to further complicate the repair of vehicles with aluminum structures after a collision.
Something as simple as applying the wrong temperature could easily lead to the material becoming brittle and the car losing its structural integrity. To avoid this, most car manufacturers advise collision repair shops to use rivets and structural adhesives when working on aluminum structures in vehicles.
With these developments, there has been a trend where car makers certify particular collision repair shops as designated for the vehicles they produce. These brand specific collision repair shops are certified after fulfilling certain requirements which prove that they have the requisite skilled labor and equipment to effectively repair the cars produced by the particular manufacturer. While this has seen some repair shops lose business, the car owners have greatly gained since their cars are repaired to factory standards.
To ensure that this trend does not kill competitive business, car makers need to be compelled to freely distribute repair information to any parties that request it. With some car manufacturers such as BMW, planning to begin the production of cars that have carbon fiber structures which have been proven to be much stronger than steel, collision repair shops will need to keep up with the fast paced developments of automobile engineering. This is the only way to ensure that your collision repair business remains competitive now and in the future.
