Tariffs are a tool in a long game for politicians, but for engineers and manufacturers, they are a pain in one’s posterior geometry if you know what we mean.
In February 2025, President Trump announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports closing loopholes that other countries skirted previously. And in March 2025, President Trump announced a 25% tariff on automobiles and automotive parts.
And by the time this article is published, the story could be wildly different.
Why Are Tariffs Such a Big Deal?
President Trump floated the idea that the sale of TikTok to a US company could be incentivized with a small decrease in tariffs for China.
Despite the tariff increases and ever-changing dynamics, these companies have announced a continued investment in products made in America:
- Automaker Honda announced they’d use US-made electric batteries for their hybrid vehicles.
- Pharma giant Johnson & Johnson is increasing their investment in US-based manufacturing by 25% from what they invested in 2024.
- Chip maker Nvidia committed to invest billions in US-based manufacturing operations.
These are just a few examples of investments in the manufacturing sector that will bring more jobs to local communities and help reignite American manufacturing, but many small and mid-sized manufacturers will still feel the sting of an escalating trade war, potential layoffs, and price increases on materials.
As things play out, manufacturers have a limited set of options for dealing with these factors.
With that in mind, there are a few solutions to offset issues manufacturers may have to deal with in the short term.
Three solutions that North American manufacturers can do now:
- Using Different Materials: Think using carbon fiber instead of aluminum or steel.
- Working with Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) Providers: Finding the most cost-effective and best-suited manufacturing solution is the bread and butter of manufacturing service providers. Partner with them.
- Buy American When It Comes to Suppliers: Switch to Local, North American-based suppliers where possible to decrease carbon footprint, ensure traceability, and appeal to customers who prefer to buy American.
1. Using Different Materials: Consider Carbon Fiber as an Alternative to Aluminum
The first of a few potential solutions to mitigate increased costs is simply to consider using a different material for your part or product.
Unless you’re making Coors Light cans or wings for an airplane, does your part really need to have aluminum? Consider carbon fiber where possible.
3D printers from Markforged, like the FX10 and FX20, enable you to print parts reinforced with continuous carbon fiber. When used with composite base materials such as Onyx or Onyx FR, and reinforced with continuous Carbon Fiber or Carbon Fiber FR, you can produce parts with strength comparable to 6061-T6 aluminum.
It’s heat, chemical, and impact-resistant, and has lower relative density than both steel and aluminum. With this setup, manufacturers can use it to create one-off end-use parts, custom jigs, fixtures, and specialty tooling.
Markforged is also a North American-based additive manufacturing supplier, with their 3D printing materials (including Onyx, carbon fiber, and metals) all produced at their facilities in Massachusetts.
Reasons Reinforced Carbon Beats Aluminum
Where might carbon fiber-reinforced composites work better and why? Here are a few reasons:
- It’s lighter weight: 50% lighter than aluminum
- It’s super strong: High strength-to-weight ratio
- It doesn’t rust: Chemical-resistant and weather-resistant
It’s robust when it comes to temperature: Less shrinkage and expansion
Types of Applications for Carbon Fiber Over Aluminum
So, where does it work best and for what types of applications? Here’s a few ideas:
- Stiff parts for items where you don’t want a lot of movement like telescopes
- Robotic arm grippers and attachments for the factory floor that can handle repeated wear and tear
- Aviation components including drone attachments and model aircraft
- Outdoor consumer goods like tent poles
But, you can’t use carbon fiber for everything.
Think heat sinks or electrical enclosures. Aluminum has a high heat resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and stability over time, making it the material of choice for many reasons. Being able to transfer heat and electrically ground components is critical for specific applications.
2. Using MaaS: On-Demand Manufacturing Services
A second option to consider for mitigating tariff pains is utilizing manufacturing services on-demand. Using manufacturing-as-a-service (MaaS) providers in your own backyard has a few key benefits like:
- Sustainable and Local: Produce parts and prototypes locally, which cuts down on shipping and transport fees while reducing carbon emissions.
- Scalable: Get only the parts you need and scale up or down based on business demand.
- Consultative Approach: Get the right manufacturing for your needs with advice on alternative material selection and what type of machining best fits your use case.
Whether you need traditional manufacturing services, CNC, 3D printing, 3D scanning, or something else, manufacturing as a service can help you get your part made locally, on-demand, and ensure top-notch quality.
American manufacturers should consider working with a manufacturing provider who is:
- Locally based, preferably in the United States.
- Deeply connected to an extensive network of suppliers in North America.
- Certified (Look for industry-specific certs like AS9100 or ITAR compliance).
Hawk Ridge Systems checks all of those boxes and offers a range of MaaS options to help you get started today.
3. Revisiting Your Supplier Network: Committing to Made in America
A third option manufacturers can look at is revisiting their entire supplier network, including which VAR (Value Added Reseller) they choose to work with.
If you want to cut down on lead times, save money, and help the resurgence of American manufacturing, who you choose to do business with matters. And you might be surprised what you learn about companies when you do a little digging.
How to Find the Right Supplier
As you search for the right supplier, take a look at these key questions to ask your partners:
- Are they based in North America?
- Where do they source materials and equipment from?
- Where are their employees located? / Where do they have offices?
- Where is their partner network located?
- What is their stance on products and sourcing for all things “Made in America?”
Working with companies based in America and committed to the US manufacturing sector yields benefits like:
- Meeting consumer preference for products and parts Made in America
- Higher quality and better traceability for parts and products
- Reduced carbon footprint along the supply chain
Our Commitment and Partnership to Manufacturing
If you’re a manufacturer in the United States, it can be difficult to find the right manufacturing services, tools, and expertise you need locally. That’s why we exist.
Hawk Ridge Systems is deeply engaged with thousands of engineering and manufacturing companies across North America, all faced with the impacts of the ongoing tariff situation.
Here are the top three reasons many companies partner with us:
- We’re the largest SOLIDWORKS training provider in North America, with comprehensive and flexible training options.
- We have more than 20 office locations and over 400 employees across North America.
- We have a 12-hour window for technical support and customer service with geographic coverage all across North America.
Probably Not the Final Note on Tariffs and Manufacturing
Dealing with cost increases in manufacturing is not going away any time soon, but man, wouldn’t that be nice?
Utilizing manufacturing services and operations overseas might have worked in the past for cost savings (even with international shipping fees, tariffs, and taxes.) It’ll take more than that and a dash of creativity for manufacturers to deal with continuing fluctuations in tariffs and trade in the global economy.
In the meantime, we’re here to help. Contact us today!
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