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Onshoring Your Plastic Fabrication: What OEMs Need to Consider

September 09, 2025

With the uncertainty of tariffs on offshore manufacturing, many companies are weighing the pros and cons of making a switch. If you’re considering onshoring your plastic fabrication, we’ll discuss what OEMs need to consider to make the transition seamless. That way, quality parts can be manufactured more quickly, received faster and finished more cost-effectively.

What OEMs Need to Consider

1. Cost-Effectiveness

Offshore fabrication was once appealing because of lower costs, but tariffs and supply chain challenges have changed the equation. Many OEMs are finding that working with US partners delivers comparable pricing once hidden costs like shipping, customs, and rework are factored in. Domestic fabrication also means faster turnaround and greater control over quality.

2. Supply Chain Reliability and Quality Assurance

Onshoring reduces the risks that come with overseas supply chains, while also giving OEMs greater control over quality. Working with US-based partners makes it easier to oversee production, ensure parts meet regulations, and address issues quickly. This combination of reliable delivery and consistent quality can make domestic fabrication a safer long-term choice.

3. Speed, Flexibility, and Scalability

Choosing onshore partners can shorten production lead times and speed up delivery to market. With closer proximity to the OEM, local suppliers are often more responsive to design changes, rush orders, or shifts in demand. Many offer prototyping services, lower minimum order quantities, and scalable production, giving OEMs the flexibility to adapt without the long delays that offshore manufacturing often brings.

Beyond logistics and cost, onshoring also gives OEMs the chance to rethink how their parts are produced.

4. Your Current Fabrication Methods

Onshoring isn’t just about moving production closer to home—it’s also a chance to re-evaluate how your parts are being made. Many OEMs stick with the same processes they’ve always used, even if newer or alternative methods could deliver better results. For example, thermoforming and vacuum forming can often reduce material waste, speed up production, and lower tooling costs compared to other methods. By reviewing your current approach as part of the onshoring decision, you may discover opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance quality, and create a more cost-effective long-term solution.

Custom Plastic Fabrication Solutions with ICP

After seeing what OEMs need to consider before onshoring your plastic fabrication, you might be interested in making the switch to a partner that is based 100% in the US.

Onshoring your plastic fabrication and working with a company like Industrial Custom Products ensures you’re able to:

Avoid tariff uncertainties
Remove offshoring expenses
Reduce shipping and freight costs
Get parts delivered more quickly

If you want to work with a qualified team that produces long-lasting parts for your projects, Industrial Custom Products is one of your best options. With a variety of plastic fabrication methods and unique processes, we’ll offer design assistance and create the highest quality parts for your project—whether you need plastic thermoforming, plastic fabrication or other processes. At Industrial Custom Products, we offer:

Need plastic fabrication parts made in the U.S. with strict quality and compliance standards?

Industrial Custom Products is a one-stop-shop for custom manufacturing and plastic fabrication, including: prototyping and product development, die cutting and dieless knife cutting, thermoforming and vacuum forming, large part thermoforming, CNC plastic routing, fabrication and assembly and drape forming.

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