Industry News

This month, the United States turns 250 years old. It is a milestone worth pausing on. And while European countries may scoff at 250 years as a relatively young nation, just look at what America has accomplished in that "short" amount of time. At Surplus Record, we are celebrating our 102nd year in print. Which means that by comparison, we are practically the new kid on the block. America had already been around for 148 years before we printed our first issue. We like to think we have earned our place, but we are happy to let the country have this one. Still, 102 years gives you a certain perspective. We have been around long enough to watch American manufacturing go through cycles that would have broken lesser industries. Through all of it, one thing has remained constant. America builds things. It always has, and it still … [Read more...] about 250 Years of Making Things – Built to Last

For many years, used and surplus equipment buyers have been willing to wait. If the right machine was not available this month, maybe one would show up next month. If the price felt a little high, maybe another seller would come along. That patience still has a place in this market, but in 2026, the cost of waiting is getting harder to ignore. Across manufacturing, buyers are dealing with a familiar mix of pressures. New equipment lead times remain a concern in many categories. Replacement parts are not always as easy to source as they once were. Freight, labor, financing, and raw material costs continue to factor into every buying decision. At the same time, many plants are still being asked to do more with the same floor space, the same headcount, and equipment that may already be well past its prime. That is where the used … [Read more...] about The Cost of Waiting is Getting Higher

Most of the conversation in industrial circles right now is about tariffs, reshoring, and the uncertainty hanging over capital spending decisions. Those are real stories worth watching. But there is another story developing quietly in the background that deserves more attention. A significant wave of industrial liquidations is underway, and for buyers who are paying attention, it represents one of the better buying opportunities we have seen in years. It is not coming from one single cause. That is part of why it has not made many headlines. It is coming from several directions at once. Tariff-driven supply chain restructuring is forcing a lot of companies to rethink where and how they manufacture. Some are closing facilities that no longer make sense under the new cost structure. Others are consolidating operations, combining two … [Read more...] about The Liquidation Wave No One Is Talking About

Oil prices have climbed back to around the $100 per barrel level, driven largely by tensions in the Middle East from Iran, and concerns about disruptions to global supply. Whenever energy prices spike, the ripple effects spread quickly through the industrial economy. Manufacturers feel it first in the form of higher fuel costs, higher transportation expenses, and rising prices for raw materials like steel, aluminum, and plastics. At first glance, that might sound like bad news for manufacturing. Higher energy costs can squeeze margins and make production more expensive. Companies that rely heavily on shipping or energy intensive processes often feel the impact quickly. But industrial markets rarely move in a straight line. Higher oil prices often trigger increased activity in the energy sector. Oil and gas companies begin … [Read more...] about Oil at $100: What it Means for Manufacturing and the Used Equipment Market

Capital equipment moves at capital speed, which is typically… not fast at all. It moves at the pace of budgets, board approvals, engineering reviews, financing conversations, and long term production planning. It moves deliberately. It moves cautiously. And it almost never moves overnight. One of the most common misconceptions I run into has nothing to do with pricing, tariffs, or interest rates. It has to do with expectations. Every so often someone comes to us who is new to this space but has a piece of equipment, or sometimes an entire production line, they want to sell. They assume it will move quickly as they are eager for it to sell and ready to let it go at an amazing price! In their mind, it is similar to listing a pickup truck online. Put up a few photos, set a price, and wait for the offers to roll in. Selling used … [Read more...] about Capital Equipment Moves at Capital Speed