Why European Drawings Should Be Adapted for American Manufacturing Solutions

In the wake of tariff changes in 2025, we’ve helped many customers in their efforts to reshore and take advantage of American manufacturing solutions. We’ve also seen another pattern emerge: European businesses reaching out to move some production to the US.

At ReNEW Manufacturing Solutions, we're happy to help European customers through this process. But there is one common issue we alert customers to: differences between U.S. and European material specifications. 

In particular, there can be challenges around standard thickness, alloy/grade availability, and how materials are designated. These details can seem small, but they can add time and potentially cost to a project if not handled correctly.

Why European Drawings Can Cause Issues in U.S. Sourcing

Many RFQs we receive from European businesses are for parts originally designed in Europe, sometimes years before. We often receive the same drawings that the business has always used, and that’s understandable: if a part has functioned well, it’s natural to assume the drawing won’t need to be changed.

But while functional requirements may not change when you’re switching to American manufacturing solutions, U.S. material standards and availability often do. Common sources of friction in this quoting process include:

Metric vs. imperial thickness conventions

Because the U.S. and Europe use different measurement systems, the thicknesses that are “standard stock” often don’t line up cleanly. That can force a choice: change thickness, source from a specialty supplier, or import.

Regional alloy preferences and availability

Europe and the U.S. often use different standard alloys for the same general material families. For instance, aluminum 6061 is often considered a “go-to” general-purpose alloy in custom metal machining in the U.S., while 6082 often plays that role in Europe. Similar patterns show up in steel and stainless steel choices. 

Differing naming conventions

In some cases, there is the simple issue of translating standards. Differing naming conventions can still slow down quoting because a material callout that’s clear in Europe may not be immediately recognizable in America. Estimating teams may need to clarify equivalents and understand if certifications are tied to a specific name.

The Ideal Solution: Create a U.S. Version of Your Design

The fastest path to American production is to preemptively adapt your drawings to U.S.-standard materials and thicknesses. This will be a major benefit to your sourcing process for American manufacturing solutions, because the challenge is not unique to our shop or our capabilities. 

With a U.S. version of your drawing, you’ll receive faster and more consistent quotes across your entire supply chain. You can directly compare quotes rather than trying to understand whether a quote is high due to material issues, but could be lower if you accepted a substitution.

How We Help With European Designs

Even if you haven’t adapted your drawings yet, we always do our best to support your project. Here are the most common approaches:

Quote with an equivalent and request a deviation

If your RFQ specifies a material or thickness that isn’t readily available in the U.S., we’ll often quote using the closest practical equivalent that is a standard here. This can be the simplest path to production, but it typically requires your engineering team to approve a deviation. That can add time to your project.

Source domestically when possible

Sometimes we can locate domestic vendors that carry your specified alloy or grade, even if it’s not as common in the United States. However, finding the exact material as well as the exact thickness can be particularly difficult. In those cases, we can consult with you on whether you’d like to adjust your requests or consider importing.

Importing material when changes aren’t possible

If your product requirements don’t allow any substitutions, we can explore imported options. However, importing will almost always increase your cost and lead time, in some cases offsetting the benefits that motivated the move to the United States.

Request a Quote for American-Made Parts

We’re proud to support European companies that are seeking out American manufacturing, and we’re ready to help you succeed. If speed and efficiency are priorities, the best step you can take is to adapt your design to U.S. standards before you send out RFQs. If you’re not there yet, we’ll work with you to find the best path forward.

Request a quote today, and partner with a metal manufacturer who can support your production in the United States!