Aluminum-intensive vehicle construction has turned aluminum capability into a deliberate equipment decision for collision facilities. The equipment list is well understood — what takes planning is the business decision: which services you're adding, what the work area needs, and how the project gets quoted and financed.
This guide covers that business level. Aluminum repair procedures, welding settings and material handling requirements belong to manufacturer training and your technicians' qualifications — not to a financing company.
WHY SHOPS ADD ALUMINUM CAPABILITY
The decision is market-driven: the vehicle mix you repair and the customers you serve decide whether aluminum capability belongs in your shop. Shops that add it usually describe the reason the same way — the vehicles they want to repair are increasingly aluminum-intensive, and the capability lets them take that work on in-house instead of turning it away.
THE EQUIPMENT, BY CATEGORY
REPAIR STATIONS
JOINING & WELDING
TOOLING
AIR QUALITY
Commercially meaningful equipment is the focus — FixFin's financing authority is in substantial professional equipment, not hand tools.
PLANNING ALUMINUM CAPABILITY?
Not sure what the project should include? Ask a question — describe the capability you're planning and we'll help you scope the equipment request.
ASK A QUESTIONTHE WORK-AREA QUESTION
Aluminum work is commonly done in a dedicated, separated area of the shop — the concept most collision businesses know as aluminum separation. How to lay out, equip and organize that area is your business's decision, made with your equipment vendor's guidance and your own procedures. FixFin's role is the equipment financing, not the facility plan.
THE JOURNEY: GOAL → EQUIPMENT → WORK AREA → QUOTES → FINANCING
1. THE BUSINESS GOAL
The vehicle mix and the customers decide whether aluminum capability belongs in your plan.
2. THE EQUIPMENT CATEGORIES
Station, joining, tooling, extraction — the list your services actually require.
3. THE WORK AREA
A dedicated area planned with your vendor's guidance and your own procedures.
4. THE QUOTES
Itemized quotes from your vendor or vendors — equipment, and installation where applicable.
5. THE FINANCING
Aluminum equipment on its own, or as part of a larger collision package, in one application.
NEW VS USED — WHERE ELIGIBLE
New aluminum equipment arrives with current vehicle support; eligible used aluminum equipment may also be considered depending on age, condition, seller and transaction. Describe each piece exactly as it's being bought — the review sees the real project.
NO GUARANTEED OUTCOMES
Adding aluminum capability is an equipment decision, not a revenue promise. Whether it grows the business depends on your market, your vehicle mix and your customers — a decision your own market knowledge is best placed to make.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
POPULAR FIXFIN QUESTIONS
Can I finance used automotive equipment?
USED EQUIPMENT GUIDE
Can I finance a complete shop?
COMPLETE SHOP CHECKLIST
What equipment does an auto repair shop need?
COMPLETE SHOP GUIDE
Two-post or four-post lift?
LIFT COMPARISON GUIDE
Can installation and freight be included in financing?
INSTALLATION & FREIGHT GUIDE
Can an auto shop finance commercial HVAC?
SHOP HVAC GUIDE
Can my equipment dealer start the application?
CUSTOMER HANDOFF GUIDE
Can I finance a complete mobile service van?
MOBILE SERVICE GUIDE
Do I need a quote before applying?
QUOTE CHECKLIST