Top manufacturing trends that will affect factory relocation in 2023

As the new year gets underway, we've been looking ahead to the 2023 trends in manufacturing that we think will impact heavy machinery moving, installation and factory relocation projects.

Manufacturing trends impacting factory relocation in 2023

Merritts has always been a progressive business which has evolved over our 100-year history to cater for the needs of our customers. We understand the risks involved with plant relocation projects and have therefore become adept at assessing the key trends in order for us to continue operating as a successful family-owned business.

In this article, we look ahead into 2023 and highlight some of the key trends that will affect factory relocation in 2023, which we feel our customers may want to consider in order to overcome some unique challenges.

The three key trends that we think will affect factory relocations, we have chosen to highlight are:

  • Factories upgrading to introduce digital technologies
  • Companies opting to outsource production to high volume or specialist manufacturers
  • Building resilience by increasing their ability to produce more in the UK

Introducing Digital Technology

The fourth industrial revolution, called Industry 4.0 continues to affect the way companies design, manufacture, improve and distribute their products. The need to integrate new technologies such as Augmented reality, 3D printing, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and analytics, Artificial Intelligence and machine learning into production facilities may require the removal of outdated machinery, the installation of new machinery or a complete factory relocation project in order to rationalise factories to create more modern and efficient facilities.

Outsourcing Production

Companies which may have previously manufactured products in-house are increasingly outsourcing production. They claim the investment required to embrace the kind of tech their carefully chosen partners offer are by far outweighed by the benefits of improved quality, process efficiency, production speed, and price competitiveness that outsourcing has been able to deliver. The knock-on effect is that these companies will be closing factories and the outsourcer may need to invest in more new machinery or new factories in order to ramp up capabilities.

Building Supply Chain Resilience

As all supply chain managers will know, the pandemic and other global events have impacted supply chains. We are seeing a greater appetite for UK manufacturers to support the UK economy by buying British, but to also alleviate the risk of buying from supply chain partners overseas which may be impacted by these disruptions and cause production delays.

This trend may lead to UK businesses buying new machinery, or relocating the redundant machinery from their foreign manufacturers in order to set up operations here. Similarly, the global operators may choose to relocate entire factories to the UK.

Can we help?

Our ongoing monitoring of industry sector trends means we can plan our continual investment in market-leading equipment, vehicles, and high-calibre personnel to ensure we have the necessary resources to safely carry meet the demand for a professional factory relocation machinery moving service.

Our feet of vehicles includes;

  • Pick and Carry Cranes
  • Versa Lifts
  • Lorry Mounted Cranes
  • Hydraulic Jacking Systems
  • Fork Lift Trucks

Factory move vehicles

Merritts operate throughout the UK and overseas across a multitude of industrial and manufacturing sectors. Projects have included major factory relocation projects, new machinery deliveries and installations, production lines machinery reorganisations, and the provision of secure industrial storage.

We work closely with customers ranging from local SMEs to global organisations in sectors such as aerospace, defenceautomotivefood, drinkeducationtextiles, plastics, waste & recyclingmetalworkhealthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Our secure industrial storage facilities has over 80,000 ft² of internal warehouse space and is also an HMRC approved bonded facility.

We realise that every project is unique so we will always work with the customer to understand their exact requirements in order to provide technical guidance and a bespoke project package that is tailored specifically for them.

Fully qualified relocation contractor

Your project manager will be supported by a fully trained engineering team which comprises: SSSTS trained foremen, riggers, HGV Class 1 & 2 drivers, crane operators and electrical & mechanical engineering specialists. Merritts also employ fully certified slinger signallers, banksmen and appointed persons to provide competent supervision when carrying out the moving and lifting of plant machinery and equipment.

Ensuring the highest levels of health and safety standards are met

We demonstrate our commitment to health and safety prior to the commencement of works by providing you with a suite of safety documentation to evidence our credentials.

This gives you confidence that your project will be carried out safely and in accordance with the regulatory compliance legislation. These include; method statements, risk assessments, lift plans, personnel training records and plant and equipment inspection certificates.

Over our 100 year history, Merritts have successfully completed numerous factory relocation projects.

If you are considering a heavy machinery removal, factory relocation project, or installation project, need to temporarily store new or redundant heavy machinery, or simply need space to carry out servicing and maintenance, please get in touch.

January 10, 2023 by D. Hardy

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