ABB has obtained product-level certification for variable frequency drives (VFDs) under the NEMA Make It American domestic content certification program. This achievement for ABB Drives, manufactured at the company's New Berlin, Wisconsin facility, extends the product certification into a new category that is heavily utilized in federally funded critical infrastructure.

The NEMA Make It American Program helps manufacturers to offer Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act-compliant products to the market. The certification validates that companies meet domestic content requirements for products destined for federally funded infrastructure projects.

“Being the first manufacturer to achieve product-level certification under NEMA’s Make It American Program for variable frequency drives is an important milestone for ABB and for the industry,” said Petri Sullstrom, ABB local division manager, drive products division, US. “This certification reflects the strength of our manufacturing operations in New Berlin, Wisconsin, and underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality, BABA-compliant solutions that help customers move critical infrastructure projects forward with confidence.”

ABB’s VFD certification is an important step forward for the Make It American program and the broader goal of strengthening America’s manufacturing base, said Alexa Burr, NEMA senior vice president of strategic growth and membership. “This milestone certification for VFDs manufactured in New Berlin, Wisconsin shows ABB is raising the bar, giving customers, channel partners and procurement officials added confidence that these drives meet rigorous domestic content standards through an independent third-party audit process. It is a strong example of how manufacturers can demonstrate compliance, strengthen supply chain transparency and help ensure critical infrastructure is powered by products that are not only made in America, but independently certified to verify it,” noted Burr.

The Build America, Buy America Act was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the intent of ensuring American tax dollars support America's workers, communities and businesses. BABA sets domestic content requirements for manufactured products in all infrastructure projects receiving federal funding.

The NEMA Make It American Program provides a third-party audit and certification process that helps manufacturers demonstrate compliance with BABA requirements. Participating organizations undergo expert-led audits of their manufacturing facilities and products to assess conformance with the supply chain evaluation process standard (NEMA 70901-2024) and verify application of specific criteria to designated products. If manufacturing facilities and products pass audits, they are added to the NEMA Make It American BABA registry.