Everywhere you look lately—headlines, policy speeches, social media—there’s talk of a manufacturing renaissance.
We hear that America is bringing back jobs. That tariffs will drive demand for local production. That we’re entering a new era of domestic industry. And in many ways, we want that to be true.
But from inside our small union sheet metal shop just outside Chicago, here’s what this “renaissance” actually looks like:
✅ We’re already doing what the policies say they want.
At Madon Sheet Metal, we:
- Use 100% American-made steel
- Employ skilled union tradespeople from Sheet Metal Workers Local 73
- Fabricate food-grade stainless duct, custom welded products, curb adapters, and more
- Invest in tools like a laser table and CNC press to keep quality high and lead times tight
We didn’t need a national campaign to build a business around fair wages, high standards, and local manufacturing. We’ve been doing it from day one.
📉 We don’t have a labor shortage. We have a work shortage.
This is a critical distinction that’s getting lost in the national conversation.
Our union has hundreds of young people eager to enter the trades.
We have trained fabricators ready to work.
We have capacity—but not always the volume.
Because when construction projects stall due to economic uncertainty…
When material prices rise and owners hesitate…
When tariffs create confusion without long-term demand planning…
Small manufacturers like us feel it first.
⚠️ Headlines don’t pay the bills. Partnerships do.
We’re encouraged by the attention being paid to manufacturing. Truly.
But we also know that reshoring and “Made in America” mean nothing if businesses don’t choose to partner with shops that are already here, already ethical, and already building quality products that last.
🔭 So what does the manufacturing renaissance need to succeed?
- Long-term thinking, not just reactive policy
- Investment in skilled labor and ethical supply chains
- Collaboration with the shops and people who’ve never stopped doing the work
We’re not waiting on a renaissance.
We’re living it—one weld, one part, one project at a time.
If you’re looking for a fabrication partner who treats people well, builds with integrity, and delivers with pride, we’re ready to build with you.