Since joining NEMA in June 2024, Ritz Instrument Transformers USA (Ritz USA) has become an active voice in the electroindustry, bringing decades of expertise and a strong focus on expanding domestic manufacturing. Under the leadership of CEO Scott Flowers, the company has averaged 30% annual growth over the last 5 years, with its biggest expansion efforts centered on high-voltage transmission products. Last year, the company announced construction on a new $30 million manufacturing facility in Waynesboro, Georgia, aimed at reducing lead times and increasing capacity to support a grid that’s under more pressure than ever.
Expanding Capacity to Meet Rising Demand
Instrument transformers are critical to grid modernization and resilience, feeding meters and relays that allow utilities to monitor and protect the system. As renewable energy sources like solar become more widespread, accurate power quality measurement is vital. These transformers ensure utilities can track and manage harmonic power data as it moves through the system.
Lead times have been a major industry challenge, particularly for high-voltage equipment. Ritz USA’s new Georgia facility is designed to help address that issue by boosting production capacity and getting essential components into the hands of utilities faster.
“The factory in Waynesboro represents the biggest single investment our company has ever made,” said Flowers. “There is tremendous growth in transmission, and this facility gives us the ability to better serve our customers and meet that demand head-on.”
Navigating Build America, Buy America
Expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity is only part of the equation. To qualify for funding under the Build America, Buy America (BABA) provisions, companies must also navigate a complex web of domestic content requirements. That’s no small task, especially when many components used in grid equipment aren’t yet manufactured in the U.S.
This was a major factor in the company’s decision to join NEMA. Flowers and his team are actively engaging with the NEMA Make it American™ program to better understand BABA compliance and advocate for realistic solutions that support domestic manufacturing.
“What attracted us to NEMA was its leadership on BABA,” said Flowers. “It’s a complex process, and manufacturers need clarity. We’re looking forward to participating more in the Make it American program to ensure we not only meet compliance requirements but also help drive the conversation about what it really means to be made in America in terms of percentage of content.”
Policy Certainty and Workforce Investment
Expanding U.S. capacity also means navigating policy uncertainty. Evolving trade rules, tariffs, and sourcing requirements complicate planning for companies working to invest long-term in American manufacturing. For Flowers, stable, consistent policy is essential for making the kind of commitments required to strengthen domestic supply chains.
That includes investing in people as much as in equipment. Ritz supports NEMA’s advocacy on workforce development—particularly efforts to promote electrical manufacturing as a viable, rewarding career path for young people entering the workforce. As the sector scales up, developing a pipeline of skilled workers will be just as important as scaling production lines.
“We can’t meet growing demand without a growing workforce,” said Flowers. “It’s important that we not only build facilities but also help build the next generation of talent who will power them.”
Looking Ahead
The road ahead for U.S. electrical manufacturing is full of both challenges and opportunities. As new pressures emerge—from grid congestion to evolving policy and regulatory landscapes—the path ahead is clear: scale up production, shorten delivery timelines, and invest in domestic capacity so utilities have the equipment they need to modernize and strengthen the grid. By deepening engagement with NEMA, particularly through the NEMA Make it American program, Ritz USA is not only working to meet domestic content requirements but also helping to shape policies that support a stronger U.S. manufacturing base.