Because our products are used for military applications, we need to take certain precautions in the creation of our silicone keypad production processes.
ITAR is short for International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which was implemented more than 30 years ago by the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). These regulations are essentially import/export control regulations strictly enforced by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) in an effort to protect national security and enhance U.S. foreign policy objectives.
These regulations control the creation and distribution of items on the United States Munitions List (USML), or anything else that is intended for military- or defense-related applications.
Where We Come In
Wholesalers, distributors, contractors, third-party suppliers and computer software/hardware vendors must all be ITAR compliant. But even though the products we make and sell aren’t listed specifically on the United States Munitions List (USML), we still make sure our silicone keypads are fully in line with ITAR compliance regulations.
That’s because we know if our products are ever utilized on a USML system once out of our hands, we have followed the rules on our end. And that’s important to us, as both our company and our client cannot be accused of violating the law.
Penalties for ITAR compliance violations can include both civil and criminal fines. Civil fines can total up to $500,000/violation, while criminal fines can total up to $1 million/violation and up to 10 years in prison.
The requirements spelled out by ITAR have been put in place to ensure defense technology and technical information related to it remains confidential. You can see why this would be so important, from a defense and military perspective where the very protection of our nation is at stake.
As you can imagine, if products on the USML list were to get into the wrong hands, disaster could ensue.
All business owners should be responsible for making sure the sub-contractors they employ are fully ITAR compliant. If you think you, as a small business owner, can skirt the law and then claim ignorance later on if caught, you may want to think twice. The U.S. government is fully aware of these types of overlooks and will do all they can to enforce the rules if found out.
Just keep in mind: if your company is ITAR compliant, but you have purchased foreign components that aren’t, you have put your whole operation at risk.
What We Promise
We are a proud U.S.-based company that guarantees all our components are manufactured right here at our state of the art factory in Virginia. This means we have full control over what parts we manufacture and what their intended uses are.
We work frequently with military partners, guaranteeing that everything we manufacture for military purposes, such as silicone keypads, is ITAR compliant. It’s no coincidence that we craft our products in the most military-focused region in the nation: Newport News, VA where our headquarters is located.
This is why it’s critical for you as a business owner to choose a silicone keypad manufacturer that places a high priority on ITAR compliance. Come to us as your leading ITAR certified molding company today. Call us now at 757-887-8488.
