The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has expanded its Make It American™ certification program to include a new Build America, Buy America (BABA) product specification for Low-Voltage General Purpose Transformers (LVT) — ubiquitous components that step down voltage to safe levels for power, heating, and lighting circuits across virtually every segment of the built environment. 

Dry-type transformers are among the most widely deployed components in the U.S. electrical ecosystem, powering commercial buildings, industrial facilities, data centers, schools, hospitals, and critical federal infrastructure. Their ubiquity in federally funded construction projects makes clarity on BABA compliance status especially valuable — helping procurement officials, prime contractors, and electrical engineers navigate domestic content requirements with confidence. 

“The Make It American program exists to strengthen domestic manufacturing — not just by recognizing the companies that are already investing in U.S. production, but by creating the market incentives for more manufacturers to do the same,” said NEMA SVP of Strategic Growth and Membership Alexa Burr. “Low-voltage general purpose transformers are foundational to the performance and reliability of the infrastructure Americans depend on every day, and this new specification gives the manufacturers who make them a clear, credible path to demonstrate their commitment to domestic production.” 

As the key building block of alternating current (AC) electrical systems, low-voltage general purpose transformers are essential components in power-intensive, economy-driving infrastructure. LVTs enable safe, and reliable operation of electrical equipment in critical applications for utilities, data centers, healthcare facilities, schools, transit hubs, and manufacturing plants across the country. Expanding Make It American certification to cover this category gives LVT manufacturers a concrete way to align their domestic production investments with federal procurement priorities — and gives buyers a reliable signal that the products they are specifying are built in America. 

“Eaton supports efforts to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and bring greater clarity to domestic content requirements — an approach that reflects our long-standing and ongoing investments in U.S. manufacturing and our leadership in NEMA,” said Brent Henry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Commercial Products and Assemblies at Eaton. “Expanding the Make It American program will give customers greater confidence in where critical infrastructure is made.”  

NEMA’s Make It American program is a comprehensive program that includes industry-leading standards, certifications, and resources to help manufacturers navigate domestic content requirements. Companies that successfully complete the third-party administered certification audit are granted marks to showcase their rigorous supply chain processes, commitment to transparency, and enhanced domestic manufacturing footprint — ultimately making it easier for manufacturers, government agencies, and procurement officials to source materials with higher levels of U.S.-manufactured content. The LVT specification joins a growing suite of Make It American BABA product specifications now spanning 10 categories. 

For more information about NEMA’s Make It American program and the BABA Registry of certified companies and products, visit makeitelectric.org/nema-programs/make-it-american.