I asked this question to a body shop man I have used over the years. He is now 70 years old and semi-retired. He told me there was no way he would be purchasing the equipment to do the aluminum work as it would be right at $35K. Interestingly enough he taught welding and auto body repair at the local community college. He said he knew the techniques and they really are not anything new but he could not justify spending that much for equipment.
So, the consumer will pay for that equipment with increased insurance costs and higher repair fees....just a fact of life I guess.
