Northeastern Pennsylvania -
Piling Solutions owners Gene and Allison Swindell choose to manufacture steel pipes for the construction industry in Hanover Twp. rather than offshore but they face challenges making them in America.
The price of steel has gone up 200% to 300% over the last year and a half, Gene Swindell said.
Amid supply chain issues, shipping interruptions, and the unreliability of foreign suppliers, Swindell said companies could benefit from steel pipes being made in America. Prices domestically remain so high, however, that he said their pipe mill isn't busy all the time.
John Augustine, president and CEO of regional economic development marketing agency Penn's Northeast, said in recent years, there has been a huge increase in manufacturing in the Northeast and throughout the U.S. and manufacturers have been expanding. Companies find productivity and quality are better in the U.S., he said.
There also has been an increased interest in manufacturers moving here, Augustine said. Two steel companies from Brazil and a U.S. company looking to expand have expressed an interest in moving here, he said. The steel industry faces unique challenges as a result of shortages and the high price of steel, he said.
Augustine also has seen a rise in reshoring and onshoring, which keeps manufacturing operations in the U.S. He expects there will continue to be onshoring and reshoring since manufacturing here can offer better supply chain management. Companies that manufacture products here could get them to the market quicker instead of getting them shipped from overseas, he said.
"We continue to learn from our mistakes not to rely too much on foreign companies," he said.
