Ideally made in Europe, but European-based companies are fine too, as realistically many will always need to be manufactured in China, Japan, or wherever else (especially tech). Looking for physical products, not software (amazing open-source software is bountiful and easy to find!)
Does not necessarily have to be from the EU (e.g. UK or Switzerland), non-EU countries are cool too!
What are some quality products that you have used that were made in Europe / is by a European company? From any category.
Hmm. Well, a few Europe-originating companies whose products I see used or recommended here in the US, though I don’t know for sure where all of their manufacturing facilities are located.
Bic is a pen manufacturer that makes inexpensive ballpoint pens. French.
Eaton makes a lot of computer power-control and management hardware, stuff like uninterruptable power supplies, power distribution units, stuff like that. Irish.
I haven’t used Victron solar/battery/inverter products, but they seem to be regarded as pricey but well-made on Reddit, and I’ve seen people consistently recommend them. They’re Dutch.
My favorite cheese is probably Red Windsor, a sweet dessert cheese that has white Cheddar with marbled port wine. For whatever reason, no creameries in the US seem to make something comparable. It’s the product of a creamery in the UK, Long Clawson Dairy.
EDIT: Hmm. Reading their Wikipedia article, apparently Eaton is actually mostly American, but it sounds like they moved their headquarters to Ireland for tax reasons, so I don’t know if they’d legitimately qualify.
EDIT2:
Beyerdynamic is a German headphones manufacturer that makes my favorite non-active-noise-cancellation headphones that I’ve used over the years, the DT 770 Pro; they’re pretty sturdy headphones that have good passive isolation. That being said, Wikipedia says that they were just acquired by a Chinese company last year, so…shrugs. It does say that they intend to keep making most of their products in Germany, though. And that reminds me of another:
Cherry makes well-known computer keyboard keyswitches with swappable keycaps, but they’re apparently closing their German production facilities down and shifting production to China:
https://blackout-news.de/en/news/end-of-cherry-production-in-germany/
All of my mechanical keyboards other than my buckling-spring keyboards use Cherry keyswitches.
Victron user here. The devices they build are rock solid. They may have some tiny quirks here and there but so do other manufacturers.
If you have some engineering background they are perfect. Everything is open, you can write software extensions in node red for example. Best part is it is modular with open interfaces and it uses standard battery voltages. You can optimize everything for your usage and I’m sure you can keep it Running for decades. A Multiplus has the look and feel of hardware made in the 60-70s. But in a good way: Built to last.
Price wise they are more expensive than chinese Equipment but not a lot more expensive than other systems from well known brands. Can highly recommend
Rather than Eaton you may have been thinking of Schneider Electric /Square D, which is French. I prefer their stuff over Eaton.