St. Claude Autobody has recently met all requirements set forth by the Ford Aluminum Collision Repair Program and Manitoba Public Insurance in order to properly repair the new aluminum Ford trucks. With today's automakers using aluminum and other complex materials in vehicle construction, it is crucial that repair facilities stay up to date with training and required equipment to safely perform repairs to these vehicles. This drastic change means that repair facilities need to invest in additional training, tools, and equipment in order to continue providing the safe, reliable and cost-effective repairs that Manitobans have come to expect.
St. Claude Autobody has made this investment in equipment that includes an Aluminum MIG Welder, Aluminum Dent-Pulling tools, Fume Extraction tools, Dust Collection Systems, Aluminum Riveting tools and Work Area Separation Systems. This equipment is not only necessary to complete the repairs but is instrumental in ensuring that technician health and safety continues to exceed industry standards at St. Claude Autobody.
The Ford F150 has long been Canada's best selling truck and it's reputation continues to grow with it's new aluminum body as sales increase. Thanks to the extensive use of aluminum in the body structure and high strength steel in the frame, the 2015 Ford F-150 has reduced it's curb weight by almost 750 pounds. In the 2017 model year, Ford has carried this drastic change over to it's Super Duty line now making ALL of their current production trucks aluminum bodied.
Neil Metcalfe, owner of Metcalfe's Garage (Treherne Manitoba's Ford Dealer) understands the importance of completing safe repairs and having vehicles returned to their pre-accident condition. "Customer safety has always been our biggest concern" Neil states, "and making sure our customers have access to proper repairs is very important. Having St. Claude Autobody nearby, capable of these complex repairs, assures us that our customers can be looked after in a safe and convenient manner. "
Although MPI has not mandated that having this equipment is necessary to be an accredited facility, they have made a commitment in insuring that vehicles built with complex materials only be repaired at facilities that are properly equipped to do so.
Available on MPI's website is a list of shops that are qualified to complete repairs to vehicles using complex materials. This listing is available by clicking on the link below:
Manitoba Public Insurance Complex Materials Repair Facilities
We are proud to be able to provide this service to our valued customers in an ongoing commitment to staying up to date with the latest trends in collision repair.
St. Claude Autobody is equipped to handle all your aluminum Ford truck repair needs.