Industry News

For years, reshoring was discussed more as an idea than a reality. Companies talked about bringing production closer to home, but many plans stalled as costs, labor concerns, and long standing global supply chains kept factories overseas. As we move into 2026, that conversation has clearly shifted. Reshoring is no longer theoretical. It is showing up in plant expansions, new domestic contracts, and most noticeably, increased demand for industrial equipment. Several factors are pushing this change. Supply chain disruptions over the past few years exposed how fragile long distance sourcing can be. Extended lead times, shipping delays, and unpredictable costs forced manufacturers to rethink reliability. At the same time, customers are demanding shorter turnaround times and greater control over quality. Producing closer to the end user … [Read more...] about Why Reshoring is Driving Equipment Demand

The chip demand story for 2026 is not really about AI hype. It is about capacity and infrastructure.When a new semiconductor facility gets announced, people picture ultra specialized process tools that most of us will never touch. We’ve all seen the interviews on TV where they walk around these new facilities that look like something out of a sci-fi TV show with Elon Musk pointing to various pristine looking servers blinking green and blue. But the reality is that building chip capacity is a massive industrial project before it is a technology story. It means new buildings, expansions, utilities, uptime requirements, and an always on appetite for reliable power and cooling. And that is where a big part of the used equipment market stays relevant and, honestly, gets stronger. Start with the backbone: electrical and power equipment. … [Read more...] about 2026 Outlook: Chip Expansion Fuels Practical Equipment Demand

Washington finally reopened the federal government on November 13th. It was the longest shutdown on record, and it dragged on for one reason. Democrats chose to hold up the entire federal budget to try to force Republicans to approve new funding for Affordable Care Act subsidies. It was a political gamble that stretched on far longer than anyone expected. In the end they dropped the demand, Republicans did not budge, and the government reopened. By that point the damage to manufacturing was already done. When Washington stops, industry slows down, but manufacturers must try and make ends meet. Export paperwork piles up. Federal inspections pause. Environmental approvals freeze. Any project that touches a federal agency sits in place. Companies do not spend real capital when they see chaos in the capital. Manufacturers across the … [Read more...] about Washington Went Dark. Manufacturing Did Not.

As the year winds down, most companies start taking stock of what they’ve produced and what’s still collecting dust. The truth is simple: idle equipment costs money. Every square foot of floor space and every unused machine represents tied-up capital, higher insurance premiums, and missed opportunities. In today’s economy, leaving a piece of equipment sitting on the floor “just in case” is no longer a smart strategy… it’s a silent expense. The last quarter of the year is when smart operators clean house. Accountants are running the numbers, and plant managers are reviewing what to keep, what to scrap, and what to move. It’s also when buyers are the most active, looking to put their remaining budgets to work before the books close. That makes November and December two of the best months to sell or buy surplus equipment. Turning idle … [Read more...] about Inventory Turns and Year-End Write-Offs

Over the past two years, the United States has gone all-in on reshoring semiconductor manufacturing, with aparticular focus on the chips that power artificial intelligence. More than $500 billion in private sector commitments have been announced since the passage of the CHIPS Act, and fabs are springing up from Arizona to New York. TSMC’s Arizona “gigafab” complex alone is slated to host up to six facilities over the next decade. Nvidia just backed Intel with a $5 billion investment, betting on a future where U.S. chip capacity can rival Asia’s dominance. For now, though, it remains just that… a bet. Building fabs isn’t like flipping a switch. Advanced facilities take years to complete, rely on scarce skilled labor, and require vast amounts of power, water, and specialized equipment. Even as groundbreaking ceremonies grab headlines, … [Read more...] about The Great Gamble on U.S. AI Chipmaking