U.S. Industrial Manufacturers Look to Year-End Project Starts

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--As tariffs on foreign-made products continue to roil industry, industrial product manufacturers--including those based overseas--are ramping up capacity at factories across the U.S. to create more options for their customers. Industrial Info is tracking $4.6 billion worth of plastic, rubber and fabricated metal products across the U.S. that are set to begin construction in the fourth quarter, nearly half of which is attributed to grassroot projects.

Historically, the farm-equipment sector has been a steady customer for fabricated-metal producers. But rising prices for tractors and other machinery are creating headaches for U.S. farmers already dealing with slumping crop prices. President Donald Trump's tariffs are a major driver of the trend, with Deere & Company (Moline, Illinois) recently blaming higher prices for imported steel and aluminum for $600 million in added expenses for 2025. Other companies, such as AGCO Corporation (Duluth, Georgia), import some of their machinery from Europe.

As a result, U.S.-based manufacturers such as Lindsay Corporation (Omaha, Nebraska) are boosting capacity at many of their facilities as farmers seek more affordable equipment. Lindsay is preparing for a $50 million expansion of its irrigation equipment plant in Lindsay, Nebraska, which will modernize the facility to allow for the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), automation and robotics technology. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project and Plant databases can learn more from a detailed project report and plant profile.

Brian Ketcham, the chief financial officer of Lindsay, noted in the company's most recent earnings-related conference call that domestic steel suppliers raised their prices when tariffs were first announced earlier this year, but "some of that was artificial demand created [by] companies stocking up on inventory and things like that." But he added Lindsay did not see any significant price jumps following Trump's 50% tariff on steel imports announced in June: "[We] do not think the demand is there to support the domestic steel increases" on pricing.

Other manufacturers expanding their capacities include Phoenix Products (Jacksonville, Florida), which supplies heavy equipment and generator components to Caterpillar Incorporated (Irving, Texas) and other machinery producers. Phoenix is preparing for a $44 million expansion of its manufacturing plant in Jacksonville, Florida, which produces generator enclosures, fuel tanks and other fuel-system components. Subscribers can read a detailed project report and plant profile.

Last month, Caterpillar warned its investors that tariffs could cost the company up to $1.8 billion for full-year 2025, but executives did not indicate if they would rely more on U.S.-based companies to offset any added expenses.

Manufacturers of everyday products also are sprucing up some of their facilities: The U.S.-based subsidiary of Advanex Incorporated (Tokyo, Japan) is readying an $11.4 million expansion of its factory in White House, Tennessee, which produces industrial springs and pins, while New England Wire Products (Leominster, Massachusetts) is eyeing a $10 million renovation of its factory in Leominster, which produces wire products for retailers. Subscribers can read detailed reports on the Tennessee and Massachusetts projects.

Among rubber-product producers, Trelleborg Coated Systems US Incorporated, a subsidiary of Trelleborg AB (Trelleborg, Sweden), is maintaining calm amid the tariff tumult. Trelleborg is preparing to begin construction on a $28.4 million manufacturing plant in Forest City, North Carolina, to produce rubber-coated auto parts for companies such as Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). The parent company, which has more than 100 manufacturing plants worldwide, says it is well-positioned to optimize and localize its production to address trade-related challenges. Subscribers can read a detailed project report and plant profile.

Packaging producer Amcor plc (Zurich, Switzerland), another foreign-based manufacturer with several U.S.-based subsidiaries, expects to begin work in the coming weeks on a $10 million expansion of its plastic-container plant in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The company plans to add equipment and entire production lines to better service the health care, food and personal care sectors. Subscribers can read a detailed project report and plant profile.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.

Subscribers can click here for a full list of reports for plastic, rubber and fabricated metal products across the U.S. that are set to begin construction in the fourth quarter.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).