Amid all the talk of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., one point often gets overlooked: what does it mean to be “Made in the USA”?

This question matters because many buyers seek out American-made parts for the products they make so they can fix “Made in the USA” labels on their packaging. To prevent companies from abusing this practice, the FTC has established rules for what constitutes “American Made” that relate to both the value and the function of the parts being sourced.

As an example, consider the “Bonnie Hammer,” a tool designed and developed by Dragonslayers™ for use in fighting wildfires. Trenton Forging supplies forgings for this tool from our plant in Michigan, which helps them legitimately claim that it’s U.S.-manufactured.

However, we also believe that “Made in the USA” has a deeper meaning than location. We view it as referring to the values, like craftsmanship, compliance, and integrity, that the manufacturer and their workforce bring to the product.

We’ve been producing high-quality forgings in the United States for over 50 years. This blog shares how our American values inform the approach we take to manufacturing.

Forged Components Built to Last

Sourcing forged components from overseas often leaves questions about their quality. The producer might say they work to high standards, but can you really be sure?

In contrast, domestic production allows for tighter quality control. The steel comes from dependable sources and meets the expected standards. Our workers have a detailed understanding of the forging process, and we’ve invested in quality equipment that minimizes variation. We also maintain a close relationship with a third-party, well-equipped lab for material testing and analysis, staffed by technicians with high levels of expertise.

What’s more, we operate a Quality Management System that’s audited against and complies with ISO 9001:2015. This demonstrates that we have effective procedures in place for managing processes that impact product quality, from purchasing to inspection.

In short, when you buy forgings made in the U.S., you can have greater confidence in their quality and durability.

Supporting American Jobs & Communities

Manufacturing processes like forging add value to raw materials by transforming them into usable components. Doing that takes people, even in this era of automation and AI, and we employ a significant number of highly skilled workers.

Our employees spend the money they earn locally, which supports other Michigan businesses. They also participate in a wide range of local activities that build community.

We support their efforts through involvement with local organizations, foundations, and charities. These go from scholarships and veterans services to high school robotics teams and those working with pediatric cancer patients.

None of this would happen without customers who buy the forgings we make here in Michigan. As it always has, buying from American businesses supports economic stability and prosperity.

Providing Faster Turnaround & Greater Transparency

Distance equals lead time, especially in the forging industry, where weight makes air freight impractical. So, when you source forgings from producers in the U.S., you’re signing up for faster turnaround, from order placement to delivery. That makes you more responsive to shifts in customer demand and special requests, which is likely to help win more business.

Going further, when you partner with Trenton Forging, you can expect industry-leading turnaround times. That’s because we understand the importance and the benefits of shorter lead time, and we’ve structured our operations to provide just that. It also doesn’t hurt that we have our own tooling facility, which enhances our ability to give customers the service they need.

A related benefit of domestic sourcing is better communication. At worst, we’re only three time zones away, rather than nine or 12 if you source from overseas, and that speeds up our ability to discuss customer needs and orders. And as we all speak the same language, it’s much easier to get the information you need when you need it.

Ethical & Environmental Responsibility

Since our company was formed in 1967, we’ve held a strong belief in the importance of doing the right thing. We strive to meet all U.S. labor laws and safety standards and are happy to discuss this commitment with anyone. In contrast, what do we know about the ethics of our overseas competitors? Some may be very good, but there’s no way to know for sure.

More recently, we’ve embodied our strong ethical attitudes in our commitment to environmental stewardship. Forging isn’t typically known as a “green” industry, but there’s a lot we can do and have done to minimize our impact. For example:

• We recycle thousands of pounds of scrap steel, saving energy and reducing emissions.
• We’ve implemented induction heating because it’s a more efficient way of getting blanks up to temperature.
• We adopted CNC carbide cold sawing as a way of reducing the amount of scrap produced.
• Our press building incorporates zero-energy ventilation features, using energy that would otherwise be wasted to maintain comfortable temperatures.

Supply Chain Resilience

Remember the ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal and paralyzed shipping for days? That was a reminder of the fragility of global supply chains. The pandemic had a similar effect, leaving empty shelves across the country.

Domestic manufacturing avoids the worst of these supply chain vulnerabilities. Things can still go wrong, but they’re unlikely to have the same impact. Domestically, roads and rail provide options and alternatives. If you want to address supply chain risks, source your forgings from within the U.S.!

Work With Trenton Forging Today

Based in Michigan, Trenton Forging is an impression die forging company that believes in innovation, service, and quality. Our customers in the agricultural, automotive, defense, construction, and transportation sectors continually rely on us for our competitive pricing, dependable quality, responsiveness, and flexibility.

Please contact us today if you’d like to learn more about our capabilities, request a project quote, or obtain a first article sample.