# Building a U.S.-based supply chain

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2025-06-05
- Length: 5m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-06-05-building-a-u-s-based-supply-chain
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/building-a-us-based-supply-chain

## Summary

Robert Kufner, CEO and President of SDP/SI, explains how the company has evolved over 75 years to serve the automation and robotics industries by investing in advanced manufacturing and listening to customer feedback on lightweight, quiet gearboxes. He highlights SDP/SI's strategic advantage as a U.S.-based manufacturer in Hicksville, New York, which allows them to navigate current tariff uncertainties by leveraging domestic raw materials and four U.S.-based motor winding sources. Kufner also addresses ongoing supply chain challenges, specifically the reliance on Canadian aluminum and steel, and the critical shortage of domestic volume for manufacturing motor magnets.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-06-05-building-a-u-s-based-supply-chain#t=8) Introduction: Robert Kufner and SDP/SI's Evolution
- [0:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-06-05-building-a-u-s-based-supply-chain#t=28) Investing in Advanced Manufacturing for Robotics
- [1:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-06-05-building-a-u-s-based-supply-chain#t=106) Navigating Tariffs with U.S. Manufacturing
- [3:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-06-05-building-a-u-s-based-supply-chain#t=210) Sourcing Challenges: Canadian Materials and Motor Magnets

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- SDP/SI (company)
- AGMA (other)
- sdp-si.com (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [124: Tariff Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2025-05-08-124-tariff-talk) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [245: A Grassroots Approach to Shaping the Future of American Industry with Bret Boyd, CEO of Sustainment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-07-08-245-a-grassroots-approach-to-shaping-the-future-of-american-industry-with-bret-b) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Obstacles to Quickly Reshoring American Manufacturing w/ Rylan Pyciak](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-13-obstacles-to-quickly-reshoring-american-manufacturing-w-rylan-pyciak) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Self-Protecting Data | How to Bring Back U.S. Manufacturing | Galvanized](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-04-24-self-protecting-data-how-to-bring-back-u-s-manufacturing-galvanized) (EE Times Current)
- [Building out a U.S. solar supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

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