Does 'American-made' Matter for Woodworking Tools?
by Mike Conger
Thanks to advances in technology, we are in the midst of an unprecedented period of globalization. We can order products from the other side of the globe and realistically expect them to arrive within a few weeks (if they are in stock that is). The global supply chain has never been more advanced. But, it's also never been more complicated, and that doesn’t come without drawbacks. There are certainly pros and cons of exclusively purchasing American power tools and machinery.
In this day and age, we are often encouraged to support American businesses by buying domestic products whenever possible. Many customers over the years have asked us if our tools are Made in the USA.
It poses the question: does American-made matter for power tools and machinery? From our experience, some of the highest quality machines are actually manufactured in foreign countries.
Buying Power Tools & Machinery Made in the USA
There are undeniable benefits to buying American tools. For example, American companies can often provide better access to customer support for American consumers. When companies are headquartered in the United States, it's often easier to process returns, refurbishments, and handle general product inquiries. Additionally, when buying products from another country, language barriers can often stand in the way of efficient and clear communication, among other challenges.
Another benefit to buying American products is a greater assurance that the products weren’t manufactured under unsafe or unfair working conditions. This is due to the fact that not all countries have the same worker protections that the USA does. For example, a minimum wage, a minimum working age and OSHA standards are all rights that workers in America are afforded that unfortunately not every country shares.
In reality, not every American workplace is safe either though, and many businesses, including in the US, have been found guilty of cutting corners in order to save money.
Reality of Foreign Manufactured Power Tools & Machinery
According to the Federal Trade Commission, for a manufacturer to say that their product is Made in the USA, all or virtually all of the product must have been made in America. At Beaver Industrial Supply, nearly every tool manufacturer that we work with has some or all of their production process done in a foreign country.
There are very few tool manufacturers in which the parts are exclusively manufactured and assembled in the United States. Because of this, it would be nearly impossible to fill your workshop with entirely American-made woodworking or metalworking machinery.
At Beaver Industrial Supply, we carefully select the manufacturers that we work with and only offer our customers the top of the line power tools, industrial equipment and woodworking machines. For example, manufacturers like Festool, Fein and Stabila are based in Germany, yet they design some of the most powerful and reliable power tools on the market.
While JPW Industries offers some Baileigh machines with a US country of origin, a variety of their machines are manufactured at dedicated facilities in Taiwan. In fact, many of the brands that we carry at Beaver Industrial Supply have exclusive facilities in other countries where they closely monitor the production quality.
With the unexpected supply shortages and increase in demand, the global supply chain has been significantly affected recently. But our promise to you is that we will continue to order products 6 months in advance for stock so that you get your tools in hand as quickly as possible.
When purchasing equipment at Beaver Industrial Supply | beavertools.com, you can rest assured that you’re getting the highest-quality products, optimal lead times and the best customer experience.