The issue isn't that this is based on a design from the '50's (whatever that might mean in practice). There's a massive difference between throwing a bench pro

The issue isn't that this is based on a design from the '50's (whatever that might mean in practice). There's a massive difference between throwing a bench prototype together and making thousands of repeatable and reliable copies of the same device. For example, how do you guarantee it will work reliably 24/7 for weeks on end without changing settings, breaking down or killing someone? I can find the blueprints for the engine in a 1967 Ford Mustang and machine one from scratch and probably make it work. From there to making tens of thousands of copies of that same engine it's a different matter. It's a million times harder if I have to ensure a certain level of reliability, smoothness, wear rate and longevity. And we are not even talking about a critical life support device. Regarding globalization and the supply chain. Believe it or not, we almost can't build anything in the US or Europe without Chinese components. This spans almost anything you can think of, from wires to chips and displays. The displays are a good example. On a good day lead times for displays and related components range from, depending on what you are buying, 8 to 20 weeks. This is for stock product. If, on the other hand, you are using a custom display in your product, perhaps one with custom indicators, lead times can easily double. We don't make ANY of that stuff in the US or Europe. And most displays are sole source. So, if you, all of a sudden, need to make 100,000 more units of something immediately --within two to four weeks-- it is about as close to impossible as you can get and truly impossible without supernatural intervention. Having a local supply chain may not necessarily modify that, yet it would provide you with far more control. Extend that concept to almost every single component in a machine and the problem we have should become very evident. All the eggs were in one basket.