Industrial electrical systems aren’t always in protected, temperature-controlled office buildings. Sometimes, they’re in chemical processing and power plants, on oil and gas rigs, in space, or by the ocean. For these applications, you need relays and control devices that can contend with their surroundings.
Sourcing products made in America can give you peace of mind when installing electrical components in extreme conditions. Let’s explore what makes USA-made relay products the superior choice for harsh environments.
Functional Devices strives to create American-manufactured building automation products by deepening our domestic supply chains. While not all of our products are 100 percent sourced and assembled in the USA, we work domestically as much as possible when it makes sense for quality and cost. We continuously refine the caliber of our devices, testing each one before it leaves our facility with uncompromising quality assurance. Contact us to learn more about our sourcing criteria and material suppliers.
Why Do You Need Rugged Relays and Control Devices for Harsh Environments?
Before we get into the specifics of American-made products, let’s address why you would need electrical devices designed for extreme conditions. Everyone wants reliable and durable equipment, but that’s especially the case in harsh environments. Here’s some of what a relay in these circumstances might be up against:
- Extreme temperatures (e.g., next to a boiler or in a polar region)
- Moisture and humidity (e.g., water vapor and condensation)
- Chemical exposure (e.g., acids and solvents)
- Abrasive particles (e.g., dust, dirt, and sand)
- Vibration and shock (e.g., from surrounding equipment)
- Electromagnetic interference (e.g., radio waves and nearby electrical noise)
You want electrical components that can do their jobs well despite all these complications and devices that are superior in quality, durability, innovation, and cost-effectiveness. That’s where “Made in the USA” comes in.
The Advantages of Sourcing American-Made Products for Harsh Environments
Domestically produced relay control devices are an ideal worth striving for. They create American jobs, and choosing USA-made relay products promotes technological advancement and commitments to sustainability and ethical practices.
Besides these apparent benefits of supporting innovation and the economy, selecting American-manufactured building automation products ensures quality, compliance, durability, support, and cost-effectiveness.
Superior Quality & Compliance
Made in the USA products have a reputation for high quality, partly because American manufacturers have to meet stringent standards and follow quality assurance processes, including:
- Quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001)
- Industry-specific certifications (e.g., UL and ANSI)
- Rigorous testing protocols (e.g., dynamic testing, relay digital simulation)
- Advanced manufacturing techniques (e.g., microfabrication, 3D printing)
- Safety and environmental regulations (e.g., OSHA)
These standards help ensure that products made in the USA are crafted with the precision needed for optimal long-term performance. Knowing that a manufacturer adheres to certifications and quality assurance protocols can give you security in the safety, reliability, and compatibility of the products you’re considering. Many USA manufacturers often exceed these requirements, striving to adopt the highest best practices standards.
Durability & Performance in Extreme Conditions
Of course, the relays and control devices we’re discussing aren’t installed in ordinary workplaces. They require exceptional durability and specialized performance, and US manufacturing can deliver with rugged features, including:
- Protection from corrosion
- Thermoplastic or metal shells
- Firm and secure locking mechanisms
- Watertight and/or hermetical seals
- Conformally coated circuit boards
- Durable contacts
These characteristics create a relay that is resistant to heat, cold, humidity, dust, high impact, and more. With USA-made relay products, you can find tailored options that best suit your commercial application.
Shorter Supply Chains & Better Support
Since manufacturers that claim the “Made in the USA” designation source their materials domestically, the supply chains are naturally shorter. Instead of long wait times and significant expenses to ship goods across the ocean, deliveries will arrive much more quickly and at a lower cost.
When you choose a local supplier, you’ll likely enjoy quicker communication and troubleshooting, superior service, custom options and solutions, and more readily available replacement parts.
Cost-Effectiveness Over Time
One of the biggest reasons manufacturers source materials globally is because the cost of American goods can be higher. It’s no secret that overseas materials can be cheap, but cheap upfront doesn’t necessarily mean cheap in the long run.
Investing in high-quality, durable devices from the start could save you money over the product's lifetime. Better quality also means reduced maintenance and replacement costs. Compared to cheaper, less reliable imports, you’re poised to have a much better ROI with USA-made relays.
Functional Devices: Made in the USA With Global Materials for Better Quality Assurance
Harsh environments put significant demands on electrical components. American-manufactured building automation products may perfectly fit your needs with superior quality, compliance, durability, support, and cost-effectiveness. When you prioritize reliability, quality, and sustainability, your commercial space will likely run more smoothly and profitably.
Although Functional Devices can’t claim to work solely in the USA, we strive for that ideal while maintaining high-quality products. Our sourcing experts carefully vet where we get our materials and whether they can meet our quality assurance standards and the demands of harsh environments. Contact us to learn more about our relays and other building automation products made in Indiana, USA, using global and domestic materials.
About Functional Devices, Inc.
Functional Devices, Inc., located in the United States of America, has been designing and manufacturing quality electronic devices since 1969. Our mission is to enhance lives in buildings and beyond. We do so by designing and manufacturing reliable, high-quality products for the building automation industry. Our suite of product offerings include RIB relays, current sensors, power controls, power supplies, transformers, lighting controls, and more.
We test 100% of our products, which leads to less than 1 out of every 16,000 products experiencing a failure in the field.
Simply put, we provide users of our various products confidence and peace of mind in every box.