Aluminum is one of the most circular materials in American industry. Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today, and the metal is 100% recyclable. The Aluminum Association
That matters more than it might seem for solar. When building owners look at a rooftop canopy, they usually ask about the panels. But the structure underneath is what carries the array over HVAC units, vents and ductwork, stands up to wind and weather, and stays on the roof for the life of the system.
For Universal Renewables, the answer to “what should that structure be made of?” has always been aluminum.
It’s light. Aluminum weighs about a third as much as steel for the same volume, so the racking adds less load to a roof that was designed long before anyone planned solar for it. Every project still gets location-specific stamped drawings for local codes, wind loading and the roof’s structure.
It lasts. Aluminum forms a natural oxide layer that resists corrosion, with no galvanizing or paint to maintain over decades outdoors.
It’s circular, and it’s made here. Our racking is manufactured in the USA by our sister company, Universal Aluminum Products, with 100% domestic content and 80% recycled industrial aluminum waste. No long import wait times, no tariff-related delays, and one team that designs, engineers, manufactures and installs the system.
Across our 20+ MW of projects, that aluminum has gone over HVAC on condominiums, around penthouse walls on office buildings and up to 20 ft above some of the most crowded roofs in Washington, DC.
Quick answers
Is aluminum strong enough for solar racking? Yes, when it’s engineered for the site. Our systems stand from about 1 ft to 20 ft above the roof.
Does aluminum racking rust? It doesn’t rust like steel. Its natural oxide layer resists corrosion.
Where is Universal Renewables racking made? In the USA, by Universal Aluminum Products.
The strongest solar projects aren’t only about the panels.
They’re about what holds them up.
At Universal Renewables, we build that structure in America—one rooftop at a time.
We go where nobody goes.