Reminders that many of the products we use aren’t manufactured in the U.S. are everywhere. Just look at the tag inside your work gloves, or the nameplate on your woodworking hardware. There’s a good chance that both of them are made somewhere besides North America. Unfortunately, woodworking products aren’t the only things pertaining to woodwork that are imported. Woodwork itself is often sent in from abroad, especially inexpensive furniture.
The State of U.S. Manufacturing
Since 2001, China has been the primary importer of furniture in the U.S., with roughly 60 percent of imported furniture in North America coming from the manufacturing giant. Other major importers of furniture into the U.S. include: Canada, Europe, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Regardless of where imported woodwork comes from, it poses an important question for U.S. woodworkers: Does the state of U.S. manufacturing justify investing in top quality woodworking machines?
Although the thought of a global economy where price determines buying trends may tempt you to say no, indications are that the decline in U.S. manufacturing is more recent that one might think and may be on the verge of turning around. Although many perceive the drop in U.S. manufacturing to have happened in the 1980s, research indicates that the sharpest decline occurred in 2009, one of the least economically productive years of the recent recession.
In the meantime, as the value differential between the Chinese Yuan and the U.S. Dollar has decreased, a spike in U.S. has occurred. Although the recovery of the manufacturing sector is far from complete, a burgeoning domestic market for U.S. made products has made small companies question their hesitance to invest in top quality woodworking machines. If you need commercial woodworking equipment to take your business to the next level, now may be a good time to buy it.
Timing Hardware Purchases
The state of the U.S. manufacturing industry is a large trend that should not be the only determinant of whether a company should buy commercial woodworking equipment. However, the state of the industry is a good indicator of whether the timing of such a purchase is wise. Because the domestic manufacturing market is growing, right now is a good time to invest in top quality woodworking machines, especially as they can be acquired for a bargain price from RT Machine.
If your company has refrained from purchasing commercial woodworking equipment for budgetary reasons, buying reconditioned equipment from RT Machine is a great option. Although it costs significantly less than new hardware, all of our owned, reconditioned hardware offers the same reliability and production quality as new equipment. If you need to increase production capacity, why not capitalize on the opportunities of the current manufacturing trend, and get discounted machinery from RT Machine? To learn more about our inventory and services, call us today.
