ALUMINUM FABRICATION SERVICES
Aluminum fabrication takes different procedures than steel: tighter pre-weld cleaning, dedicated tooling, and procedures qualified for the specific alloy and temper. JMC Fabrication holds AWS and NAVSEA welding certifications that qualify our welders for aluminum work, with material segregation practices that keep aluminum clean of carbon and stainless cross-contamination.
Aluminum is the right specification when weight, corrosion resistance, or a specific marine code drives the choice. JMC fabricates aluminum for:
- Marine hulls, superstructures, and topside assemblies where weight matters
- Workboat, fast ferry, and specialty vessel components
- Transportation and trailer components where payload economics matter
- Food service, cleanroom, and specialty environments where aluminum is specified
- Architectural and structural work where aluminum's natural oxide finish is wanted
Aluminum welding is not stainless welding with different filler. The base metal conducts heat about three times faster than steel, the melting range is narrower, the oxide layer that protects the metal in service also blocks the weld pool, and the heat-affected zone is softer than the parent material in many alloys. Procedures, joint prep, filler selection, and welder qualification all change. JMC qualifies its aluminum work to AWS D1.2 and to NAVSEA's aluminum welding standards for marine applications.
- Marine aluminum assemblies including hull plate, decks, bulkheads, and topside structures
- Aluminum pipe spools and process piping for marine and specialty applications
- Aluminum HVAC duct and sheet metal for weight-sensitive installations
- Custom structural components, brackets, and one-off fabricated parts
- Aluminum tanks, enclosures, and specialty housings
- 5052: general-purpose marine sheet, good corrosion resistance, easy to form and weld
- 5083: the marine standard for hull and structural work, the strongest non-heat-treatable aluminum, excellent saltwater performance
- 6061: heat-treatable structural alloy, good strength-to-weight, commonly specified for structural and machined components
- 6063: extrusion alloy for architectural and structural extrusions, good corrosion resistance
- Additional alloys available on request; contact JMC to confirm for your application
Aluminum welding demands a tighter quality envelope than steel. JMC maintains:
- AWS D1.2 certified aluminum welding procedures
- NAVSEA certified aluminum welding for marine and Navy specification work
- Dedicated aluminum tooling and grinding media to prevent contamination from carbon or stainless
- Pre-weld cleaning and oxide removal procedures appropriate to each alloy
- Documentation packages per project specification, including weld logs and NDE records
- Marine and shipyard work for Gulf Coast operators and yards (NAVSEA aluminum)
- Workboat and specialty vessel topside, deck, and hull assemblies
- Transportation components where weight reduction drives ROI
- Food service and cleanroom systems requiring aluminum specification
- Architectural aluminum where finish and corrosion behavior matter
Specify aluminum when weight is the driver, when a marine specification calls for it, or when the application benefits from aluminum's natural oxide finish. Specify stainless when long-term durability in aggressive chemical or chloride environments outweighs the weight penalty. Both are corrosion-resistant; they behave differently. JMC fabricates in both and can help you make the call.
Working on a project that combines services? Explore related capabilities at JMC:
- Stainless Steel FabricationNAVSEA and AWS certified stainless steel fabrication for marine, oil & gas, and specialty industrial applications. 304 and 316 stainless. Pascagoula, MS.
- Custom Metal FabricationCustom metalwork from concept through delivery — pump skids, penetrations, flanges, subbases, copper assemblies. AWS and NAVSEA certified. 50,000 sq ft shop in Pascagoula, MS.
- Pipe Spool FabricationShop-fabricated pipe spools for oil & gas, marine, and industrial applications. AWS and NAVSEA certified welding from Pascagoula, MS. Carbon and stainless steel.
- All Fabrication ServicesOverview of JMC's full fabrication capabilities, including HVAC duct, pipe spools, and custom metalwork.
What aluminum alloys does JMC Fabrication work with?
JMC works with the common marine and structural aluminum alloys: 5052 and 5083 for sheet and marine plate, 6061 for heat-treatable structural work, and 6063 for extrusions. Other alloys are available on request, contact JMC to confirm for your project.
Is JMC Fabrication certified to weld aluminum for marine applications?
Yes. JMC holds NAVSEA welding certification that qualifies our welders for aluminum work on marine and Navy specification projects. We also maintain AWS D1.2 aluminum welding qualifications.
How does aluminum fabrication differ from steel fabrication?
Aluminum conducts heat about three times faster than steel and has a narrower melting range, so welding procedures, joint prep, and filler selection are different. The oxide layer that protects aluminum in service also blocks the weld pool and has to be removed before welding. The heat-affected zone is also softer in many alloys, which affects how parts are designed and detailed. JMC qualifies aluminum welders and procedures separately from steel.
Does JMC keep aluminum work segregated from steel?
Yes. JMC follows material segregation practices for aluminum work, with dedicated tooling and grinding media. Carbon or stainless steel cross-contamination on aluminum welds is a quality failure mode JMC's QC program is built to prevent.