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Tarrif Shield
Engineering your way around steel tariff pressures.
Issue 039
Hey there! 
If you’re part of a product design or engineering team right now, chances are youāre feeling the squeeze from rising steel tariffs, especially those recent hikes on Canadian imports. Costs are climbing 
, your budgets are tightening, and procurement is pushing backāmaking your job tougher than ever. Sounds relatable, doesnāt it?
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But here’s the good news: these tariff pressures don’t need to slow you down. With just a bit of clever thinking and some fresh engineering tactics, you can actually reduce reliance on tariff-impacted materials, control your costs, and even boost product performance. Let’s explore some smart (and totally achievable) ways you can do just that.
Swap Smart: Look Beyond Canadian Steel
Steel is greatāsolid, reliable, familiarābut tariffs have shaken things up. Itās a perfect time to get creative and consider other materials that might deliver even better performance without the tariff pain.
One promising alternative is aluminum alloys. š Lightweight, strong, and corrosion-resistant, aluminum is widely available within the US from companies like Alcoa or Kaiser Aluminum, or from reliable trade partners outside Canada. Industries like automotive and aerospace are already thriving using aluminum due to its lightweight properties and strength.
Magnesium alloys āļø are another solid substitute. Magnesium, available domestically from suppliers right here in the US, offers superior strength-to-weight ratios. This makes magnesium alloys an excellent pick for aerospace, defense, automotive, and even electronics sectors. The bonus? No tariff headaches, shorter lead times, and predictable costs.
And donāt forget engineered plastics and composite materials from domestic suppliers such as DuPont or Eastman Chemical š. These materials are versatile, durable, and easy to work with, potentially reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, all while shielding you from steel tariff spikes.
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Ask yourself: Could one of these materials work even better for your next project?
Lean Engineering: Design More with Less
Now letās get practical. Imagine packing for a short trip š§³āwould you fill your suitcase to the brim, or pack just what’s necessary? The same principle applies to product design.
By strategically optimizing your designs, you use less material without sacrificing strength or performance. Consider lean methods like strategic ribbing, cut-outs, or using thinner gauge metals in areas that arenāt load-critical. Just these small changes can help reduce your material usage by 10ā15%, directly lowering your exposure to tariff-influenced costs.
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Your metal stamping vendor can be a valuable partner here. Collaborating early ensures your designs are not only smart but also easy and cost-effective to manufacture.
Real-Life Collaboration: Engineering & Vendor Teamwork
Hereās a scenario that might sound familiar:
Picture yourself working as a design engineer at an industrial machinery company facing steep costs from steel tariffs. Instead of absorbing those expenses or passing them to customers, you team up š¤ with your stamped-parts vendor to innovate. Together, you identify a few key steel parts and substitute them with domestically sourced aluminum alloys. You optimize the geometry to reduce material usage, and voilĆ āyour costs drop, your product performance improves, and your supply chain becomes stronger than ever.
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Collaboration like this is no longer just a nice-to-haveāitās becoming essential. Working closely with your vendors can help you uncover hidden opportunities to navigate around tariff pressures smoothly.
Your Next Move: Take Action
Ready to tackle tariffs head-on? It all starts with conversations. š¢ Reach out to your metal stamping vendors, get procurement and production involved early, and consider domestically available materials or tariff-friendly trade partners. By making these strategic moves, youāll position your team to remain agile, cost-effective, and innovativeāno matter what tariffs come your way.
Youāve got this! šŖ
Gromax Precision Die & Mfg., Inc. specializes in designing and manufacturing precision metal stamped parts and tooling, including progressive stamping dies and custom equipment. With an on-time delivery rate of 99.68% and a defect rate of just 0.066%, the company ensures exceptional reliability and quality.
Gromax is ISO 9001:2015 certified and ITAR registered, serving industries such as medical, defense, aerospace, industrial automation, and automotive with high-quality, innovative solutions.