It’s a trend that’s flown mostly under the radar, but for the past few years, many offshore manufacturing jobs have returned to the United States.
The reasons are many.
For example, the cost of manufacturing overseas has increased substantially for many companies, the quality of foreign work isn’t up to par, the value of the dollar has stumbled, and domestic energy is generally affordable.
Some experts have suggested a full manufacturing renaissance in the U.S. is possible, but much has to be done to make it happen, especially in New York, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed said Thursday.
Reed discussed manufacturing in New York’s 23rd Congressional District during a tour of Hardinge Inc. on Thursday. Hardinge, which employs about 400 people locally, is a global manufacturer of machine tools.
“There are opportunities,” Reed, R-Corning, said. “There is a general belief that manufacturing is coming back to the United States’ shores.”
Reed said the U.S. must reform its tax code and reduce its debt to realize a manufacturing rebirth. He said the complex tax code hurts companies, and the growing national debt is causing uncertainty.
“A lot of these guys are keeping their capital on the sidelines” because of the national debt, Reed
said.
Reed called U.S. manufacturing “advanced” and said the country must better educate workers to fill many open jobs.
“The skills necessary are different than 100 years ago,” Reed said.
Also, Reed said New York’s energy costs are among the highest in the country. He said a recent report showed that New York’s energy prices are three or four times higher than those of some other states.
“When I saw that ... that to me was eye-opening,” Reed said.
Reed said he was unsure exactly why New York’s prices are so high, but it’s something he’s looking into. He added that tapping natural gas deposits in the state should help reduce energy costs.
Last month, Reed was named a co-chairman of the bipartisan House Manufacturing Caucus. He pledged to do everything in his power to revitalize domestic manufacturing.
“He’s a friend of manufacturing and a friend of Hardinge,” said Richard Simons, Hardinge’s chairman, president and CEO. “I think that (Reed) can help us sell machine tools.”
It’s a trend that’s flown mostly under the radar, but for the past few years, many offshore manufacturing jobs have returned to the United States.
The reasons are many.
For example, the cost of manufacturing overseas has increased substantially for many companies, the quality of foreign work isn’t up to par, the value of the dollar has stumbled, and domestic energy is generally affordable.
Some experts have suggested a full manufacturing renaissance in the U.S. is possible, but much has to be done to make it happen, especially in New York, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed said Thursday.
Reed discussed manufacturing in New York’s 23rd Congressional District during a tour of Hardinge Inc. on Thursday. Hardinge, which employs about 400 people locally, is a global manufacturer of machine tools.
“There are opportunities,” Reed, R-Corning, said. “There is a general belief that manufacturing is coming back to the United States’ shores.”
Reed said the U.S. must reform its tax code and reduce its debt to realize a manufacturing rebirth. He said the complex tax code hurts companies, and the growing national debt is causing uncertainty.
“A lot of these guys are keeping their capital on the sidelines” because of the national debt, Reed
said.
Reed called U.S. manufacturing “advanced” and said the country must better educate workers to fill many open jobs.
“The skills necessary are different than 100 years ago,” Reed said.
Also, Reed said New York’s energy costs are among the highest in the country. He said a recent report showed that New York’s energy prices are three or four times higher than those of some other states.
“When I saw that ... that to me was eye-opening,” Reed said.
Reed said he was unsure exactly why New York’s prices are so high, but it’s something he’s looking into. He added that tapping natural gas deposits in the state should help reduce energy costs.
Last month, Reed was named a co-chairman of the bipartisan House Manufacturing Caucus. He pledged to do everything in his power to revitalize domestic manufacturing.
“He’s a friend of manufacturing and a friend of Hardinge,” said Richard Simons, Hardinge’s chairman, president and CEO. “I think that (Reed) can help us sell machine tools.”
