Lessons from 2025 Equipment Moves — What They Teach Us About 2026
Discover the top lessons learned from 2025 equipment relocations. Learn how foresight, walkthroughs, and utility planning can prevent downtime and protect production in 2026.
Lessons from 2025 Equipment Moves — What They Teach Us About 2026
Relocating heavy industrial equipment is one of the highest-stakes projects a manufacturer will face. The cost of downtime alone can reach $16,000 per hour, and in some industries, far more.
As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve seen clear patterns emerge across dozens of plant closures, openings, and line relocations. These lessons reveal what makes the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that drags into costly delays.
1. Alignment is Everything
Projects that aligned early between plant managers, contractors, engineering, and EHS stayed on track. Those that didn’t? They stalled.
The difference was simple: when everyone shared the same plan before teardown began, risks were managed before they could escalate.
2. Walkthroughs Prevent Surprises
Relying on old drawings or assumptions led to costly setbacks. We saw clearance issues, floor load failures, and even live utilities in work zones.
A proper walkthrough would have flagged each of these before a single wrench turned. That’s why at Henke, walkthroughs are a cornerstone of every project.
3. Utilities Are the Silent Schedule Killer
The single biggest cause of startup delays in 2025 wasn’t freight or staffing. It was utilities.
Power upgrades weren’t complete. Compressed air wasn’t plumbed. Gas, water, and data weren’t ready for reconnect. The result? Equipment installed but idle, and production lines silent.
In fact, utilities accounted for the majority of relocation delays we encountered this year.
4. Foresight Wins Every Time
The best-run moves in 2025 weren’t about how fast the equipment was lifted. They were about how well risks were anticipated weeks earlier.
Foresight is what prevented missteps, minimized downtime, and protected production schedules.
What This Means for 2026
If there’s one takeaway from 2025, it’s this: successful relocations aren’t defined by muscle; they’re defined by planning.
As you prepare for 2026 projects, the key is to apply these lessons early. At Henke Industrial, our process, from site walkthroughs to engineered lift plans to utility coordination, is designed to eliminate the surprises that stall production and inflate costs.
Ready to plan smarter for 2026? Let’s talk about your strategy today: www.henkeindustrial.com | (859) 757-8080