The critical components of faucets are cartridges or valves, spouts, bodies and handles. Everything else is incidental or cosmetic. Manufacturers that make faucets in the U.S. cast and machine their own bodies, spouts and handles. Few, if any, make their own ceramic valves. This is a very specialized manufacturing process that requires expensive machinery that most faucet companies just don't have. So most valves are outsourced by all but the largest faucet makers.
The best ceramic valves are made in Europe (although Chinese manufacturers are catching up quickly), so better faucet companies commonly go to Europe to buy them. (And, we're going to get a bucket-load of e-mails from American valve makers who disagree.) This is not a new practice. European, especially German, valves have been preferred ever since ceramic valves were invented.
Furthermore, just about every U.S. faucet maker buys simple fittings
from China, even steadfast made in U.S.A. companies like Chicago Faucets and Symmons Industries. So the chance of 100%
American content in a faucet is pretty slim.
In our Made in USA ratings, we do not discount for a foreign ceramic cartridge or minor components. To do so would eliminate just about every U.S. faucet maker from consideration. If more than 50% of basic metal parts are cast or machined in the U.S. and the faucet is assembled and finished here, we rate the faucet "Made in USA". If the cartridge is also made here, then so much the better.
If the faucet is assembled in the U.S. but does not contain at least 50% U.S.-made parts, we rate it "Assembled in USA". If it is also finished here, so much the better.
Otherwise, it is "Imported", and we do our best to ferret out from which foreign country or countries the company imports its faucets.
Most faucet manufacturers, especially the large manufacturers, sell a complex line of faucets composed variously of faucets made in the U.S., imported faucets, and faucets assembled from imported components. Large companies, like Delta, even manufacture the same model faucet in two or more differently countries. We try to judge the overall composition of the manufacturer's products when assigning a rating. We may be wrong, and if we are we would like to hear about it. Be fairly warned, however, that if you claim your product is Made in U.S.A. we will want proof based on FTC enforcement guidelines, including the precise locations(s) where the faucet and all its components are manufactured.
In our Made in USA ratings, we do not discount for a foreign ceramic cartridge or minor components. To do so would eliminate just about every U.S. faucet maker from consideration. If more than 50% of basic metal parts are cast or machined in the U.S. and the faucet is assembled and finished here, we rate the faucet "Made in USA". If the cartridge is also made here, then so much the better.
If the faucet is assembled in the U.S. but does not contain at least 50% U.S.-made parts, we rate it "Assembled in USA". If it is also finished here, so much the better.
Otherwise, it is "Imported", and we do our best to ferret out from which foreign country or countries the company imports its faucets.
Most faucet manufacturers, especially the large manufacturers, sell a complex line of faucets composed variously of faucets made in the U.S., imported faucets, and faucets assembled from imported components. Large companies, like Delta, even manufacture the same model faucet in two or more differently countries. We try to judge the overall composition of the manufacturer's products when assigning a rating. We may be wrong, and if we are we would like to hear about it. Be fairly warned, however, that if you claim your product is Made in U.S.A. we will want proof based on FTC enforcement guidelines, including the precise locations(s) where the faucet and all its components are manufactured.
Our research has led to a few surprises. American
Standard, a very old and well-established American company that
sells literally thousands of different bath and kitchen products, manufactures
barely a half dozen of them in the U.S. American Standard is not exactly
forthcoming about where its products are made. Unlike other sanitary-ware
manufacturers it does not publish a list of its manufacturing facilities. But,
by researching U.S. Customs records, it is possible to ferret out where
American Standard actually manufactures, and it's not here in the U.S.
By contrast, Toto. the giant Japanese bath wares company, makes well over a thousand different sanitary-ware and accessory products that qualify for the "Made in USA" label in its U.S. manufacturing plants in Georgia. We find it very weird sticking a "Made in USA" label on a Japanese toilet, but there it is. Toto has earned the "Made in USA" label, and ought to have it recognized. Unfortunately, none of the faucets sold by Toto is made in the U.S. All Toto faucets are imported.
It's almost impossible to tell who makes what and where they make it without a scorecard. Companies that make most of their products overseas are often reluctant to disclose the fact, and most are very secretive about which foreign factories actually manufacture their products. It's a "trade secret", don't you know. So, if you are interested in buying American, always check the origin of the particular faucet you are looking to purchase by calling the company's customer service. They have to tell you where it's made. Even the most steadfast "Made in America" companies sell some foreign faucets — so check every time. We do.
By contrast, Toto. the giant Japanese bath wares company, makes well over a thousand different sanitary-ware and accessory products that qualify for the "Made in USA" label in its U.S. manufacturing plants in Georgia. We find it very weird sticking a "Made in USA" label on a Japanese toilet, but there it is. Toto has earned the "Made in USA" label, and ought to have it recognized. Unfortunately, none of the faucets sold by Toto is made in the U.S. All Toto faucets are imported.
It's almost impossible to tell who makes what and where they make it without a scorecard. Companies that make most of their products overseas are often reluctant to disclose the fact, and most are very secretive about which foreign factories actually manufacture their products. It's a "trade secret", don't you know. So, if you are interested in buying American, always check the origin of the particular faucet you are looking to purchase by calling the company's customer service. They have to tell you where it's made. Even the most steadfast "Made in America" companies sell some foreign faucets — so check every time. We do.
