FREDERICKSBURG, VA -- A local printed circuit board fabricator has launched a initiative to buy American-made products whenever possible.

Mark Osborn, president and founder of Colonial Circuits, says he hopes the movement will convince other PCB fabricators, suppliers and customers to do the same.

"I think that it’s time that those of us who own companies in this industry start focusing on supporting one another," said Osborn. "At Colonial, we have always been focused on buying American-made equipment whenever possible because we feel that it is the right thing to do. Because my company is focused on building circuit boards for the defense and aerospace industry, I feel a particular responsibility to make sure that those PCBs are manufactured using American-made equipment and products."

Osborn says he knows the approach won't work for all procurement, but feels it's the important first step towards rebuilding America's manufacturing and supply base infrastructure.

"I’m realistic enough to understand that we can no longer buy everything from American companies because some of the things we need are no longer available in this country, but I also know that this is part of the problem. If we don’t seriously support our fellow American companies we are just not going to have a local support network left here to help us build our products."

In urging the US electronics supply chain to buy American, Osborn added that Colonial Circuits plans to recruit other American companies to pledge to buy American whenever possible. "We owe it to ourselves as American manufacturers and American business owners and most importantly as American citizens to do everything we can do to support one another.”