Remanufacturing An Automobile

Restoring your vehicle to pre-loss condition may require remanufacturing part of your vehicle frame and body. Collision damage necessitating fabrication may involve straightening structural components and panels, splicing sections in the frame, suspension and vehicle interior modules, moulding auto body surfaces, and spot welding assembled components. This is a highly technical area of production demanding extensive knowledge of metal types and configurations, metal working, materials management, welding and attachment methodologies.

The automotive fabrication is dependent upon understanding structural and engineered operations specific to a vehicle model in order to correct damaged support structures and address malfunctions. With the push toward lighter aluminum and Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS), specialized training is critical in spot welding and heating methods to restore your vehicle's sound structure. Many auto manufacturers like Audi, Volvo and Honda are using Boron steels (a family of 3000 plus steels all in the Ultra High Strength Steel category. These models frequently use a combination of various steels, each designated for distinct structural support due to their capacity to offer greater strength (under adverse conditions such as impact or roll-over). Complementing these high strength metals, lighter weight materials are factored in the auto construction to reduce load and drag to provide more efficient fuel consumption, adept handling and aerodynamics. Manufacturing utilizing these varying materials makes it more difficult to restore a vehicle due to the inherited properties of each metal or material and how they relatively affect each other in assemblage and welding.

Normal MIG welding in automotive fabrication joins structural-pieces through a combination of heated wire with inert gas to create a joint. The heat in this process can reach temperatures in excess of 1700c. A high temperature such as this can change the molecular structure of some high strength metals which are heat sensitive therefore weakening the repair. Also factoring in the the strength and toughness of these steels is the variation between manufacturers and their manufacturing processes. Fabrication mandates continual knowledge of current manufacturing production and materials; without this understanding your vehicle stucture may loose its integrity.

As a collision specialist, we place a high importance on quality workmanship, knowledge of fabrication materials and their physical properties, and invest in complex machining skills. Attention to detail when reconstructing an auto body is paramount to procuring a high performance vehicle that is safe.