Reshoring and the Hidden Challenge of Equipment Relocation
Reshoring is one of the most important shifts in U.S. manufacturing today. With billions of dollars flowing into new facilities and expansions, companies are moving production closer to home to strengthen supply chains, reduce risk, and serve customers faster.
But while the headlines focus on jobs and investments, the success of these projects often comes down to something less visible: equipment relocation.
Why Relocation Is Critical to Reshoring
Every reshoring project involves complex moves. Production lines must be decommissioned, transported, reinstalled, and brought back online, often across tight timelines and with little margin for error.
This is where many projects stumble:
Utility delays leave equipment installed but idle
Structural surprises surface when floor loads and clearances don’t match drawings
Restart failures occur when alignment data or sequencing steps are overlooked
In many industries, downtime can cost $16,000 per hour. For reshoring projects, delays mean more than lost production; they mean postponed returns on massive capital investments.
How Henke Eliminates Risk
At Henke Industrial, we’ve spent 12 years helping manufacturers move equipment safely and efficiently across the U.S., Mexico, and internationally. Our process is designed to anticipate and prevent the issues that stall restarts:
• Detailed site walkthroughs that catch risks early
• Engineered lift and rigging plans tailored to each machine
• Utility disconnect/reconnet mapped into the schedule
• Restart sequencing bult around operational flow
Every project is backed by comprehensive insurance, safety-driven crews, and disciplined execution. The result is fewer surprises, safer moves, and faster restarts.
The Bigger Picture
Reshoring is about strengthening U.S. manufacturing. But those gains don’t materialize until production is running again. Equipment relocation is the bridge between investment and operation, and it must be done with foresight.
At Henke Industrial, we’re proud to be a small business serving manufacturers of every size. Our role is simple: protect uptime, people, and capital investment so reshoring delivers on its promise.
Planning a move tied to reshoring? Talk to Henke: www.henkeindustrial.com | (859) 757-8080