How Tariffs Impact Costs & Why ‘Made in America’ Matters More Than Ever For Wastewater Projects

Products "Made in America" Have Several Benefits

Tariffs have been a topic in the news a lot lately. In today’s unpredictable global economy and political climate, tariffs and supply chain disruptions have made it more challenging than ever for businesses and municipalities to manage costs effectively. From fluctuating raw material prices to unexpected import duties, reliance on foreign-manufactured products can lead to significant budget overruns and project delays. That’s why choosing American-made products isn’t just about supporting domestic manufacturing—it’s a strategic financial decision that helps ensure price stability, faster delivery, and long-term reliability. In this article, we’ll explore how tariffs impact costs and why selecting Made in America equipment, like Inovair’s blowers, can help mitigate risks and keep your operations running smoothly.
Supply Chain Benefits

Delays of products and materials supplied from foreign countries have amplified supply chain issues in recent years. The supply chain for manufactured products can be several layers deep, and if one component in the layers of the supply chain is interrupted, it can cause a ripple effect that increases delivery times. Material shortages, labor constraints, transportation issues, accidents, and new regulations all contribute to supply chain delays. Tariffs further complicate this equation by increasing the cost of imported goods, making projects more expensive and less predictable. Sudden tariff hikes can drive up material costs unexpectedly, impacting budgets and profitability. Buying USA-made products and materials reduces exposure to these risks, ensuring more stable pricing, fewer supply chain disruptions, and faster parts and service turnaround times to keep your project on schedule.

Superior Quality and Reliability

American-made products are synonymous with superior quality and long-term reliability. U.S. manufacturers adhere to stricter manufacturing and environmental standards, rigorous testing, and advanced engineering processes, ensuring that products perform consistently in demanding applications. Inovair’s blowers, for example, are designed and built in the U.S. to meet higher durability and efficiency standards compared to many imported alternatives. By choosing American-made equipment, customers benefit from longer service life, fewer maintenance issues, and greater overall value, making it a smart investment for industries that rely on continuous, high-performance operation.

Overall Service Levels

Even if project installation delays are an acceptable compromise, in-service outages are not. To maximize the speed at which service parts can be supplied and product experts can be dispatched, buying USA-made products is key. Typically, American manufacturing also means American customer service, which has proven to be optimal for a positive experience.


Ethical Environmental and Labor Practices

US manufacturing processes are much cleaner for the environment than many other countries. Some materials and products produced in other countries may use dangerous, heavily-polluting processes. And while labor can be cheaper in offshore countries, it often comes at the expense of labor exploitation. “Buying America” aligns our taxpayer spending with better practices.


Build America, Buy America Funds for Municipality Projects

BABA applies to all infrastructure projects under Federal Financial Assistance programs. The definition of a Project is considered any activity related to the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of infrastructure in the U.S. The definition of Infrastructure means anything fixed, permanent, and that serves the public interest.

BABA covers all federal funding and includes all state revolving funds (SRF) as well as the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. BABA applies to all new Federal funded awards or ongoing Federal awards that receive additional funding after May 14th, 2022.

All iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials must be produced in the United States with final manufacturing in the United States The cost of components that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the U.S. must be greater than 55 percent of the total cost of all components of the manufactured product. Oversight of this law will be handled by the Made in America Office (MIAO).

To comply with the Buy America Act, contractors and suppliers must provide a certification. The government may require additional compliance documentation, such as bills or material, production reports or other evidence to support the certification.


Inovair Blowers Meet BABA Requirements

Vertically-Integrated, Made in the USA

Inovair is the only manufacturer of single stage centrifugal blowers and compressors that performs all of its manufacturing activities in the USA. All Inovair products are invented, engineered, machined, assembled and tested at Inovair’s facilities in Kansas City. Another Inovair advantage is that Inovair is vertical integrated, with the company controlling all aspects of design, production and service, as it allows Inovair to respond quickly to customer needs and at an affordable cost.

State-of-the-Art Materials and Equipment

Our engineering staff makes use of state-of-the-art design programs to bring these concepts to reality. All outsourced items or process (casting, gear work, etc.) are produced in the USA. Inovair machinists faithfully reproduce these designs out of precision grade materials for tremendous strength and performance. All impellers utilize aircraft-grade 7075 T6 aluminum allowing for larger impellers free of flaws typical in cast impellers. These structurally sound impellers are capable of high speed, which produce a reliable and efficient source of air.

Read more about how Inovair is Made in America.



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Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions on BABA or how Inovair complies to BABA requirements.