Which manufacturing sectors will be planning factory relocations in the UK?

According to their automotive and manufacturing sector report issued in February 2020 by PWC claim that 94% of manufacturers planned to make changes.

By March 2020, the UK entered an enforced lockdown which presented many more challenges as companies began adjusting production lines according to demand and to comply with social distancing measures.

For some, this involved scaling up production to meet demand. For others, it meant scaling down production or diversifying to manufacture other products in order to meet this demand or because sales of their core products died overnight.

Food and healthcare product manufacturers were the sectors particularly affected as companies had to produce more food or re-invent themselves to produce PPE and ventilator machines.

Manufacturing sectors planning factory relocations

The news headlines have been full of retailers announcing store closures and this will undoubtedly have an effect on UK textile manufacturing.

The automotive industry was hard hit too as many vehicle showrooms and manufacturing plants were closed and are now behind on sales and production. Aerospace is another industry that will also take time to recover.

The construction sector has so far proved to be resilient due to encouragement from the government that works continue in order to keep the country going.

Whilst industry bodies have been lobbying Government for a bailout for key sectors, it is clear that this crisis will almost certainly lead to production line changes, factory relocations and sadly, some closures.

How do Merritts help with factory relocation projects?

At the core of our factory relocation service is a commitment to ensuring works are completed in a safe, timely, cost-effective and stress-free manner.

We understand the unique challenges, and the risks involved and thus fully appreciate that changes in manufacturing demand often result in the need to relocate heavy machinery as part of a partial or complete factory relocation or closure. These circumstances often require a great deal of sensitivity as operations may need to be carried out confidentially under none disclosure agreements (NDAs).

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 fleet of vehicles includes;

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

Merritts operates 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, defence, automotive, food, drink, education, textiles, plastics, waste & recycling, metalwork, healthcare 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

Throughout the relocation process, 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 extensive experience, Merritts has successfully completed numerous factory relocation and plant relocation projects.

If you are considering a machinery removal to a new factory, 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.