It’s an undeniable fact that manufacturing in the United
States has significantly decreased over the last decade as foreign competition
has increased and many manufacturers have shifted production overseas. Factories have been shut down, their
equipment packed up, sold, and relocated to new sites throughout the U.S. and
around the world. This trend has raised
concerns and posed many challenges, but it also offers new opportunities for
reuse and rebirth.
The main concern that arises when a company halts production
is the fate of the vacated buildings and the land they occupy. Some buildings are demolished, while others
are to be refurbished for manufacturing or reconfigured into warehouse
space. Others are reincarnated as prime
commercial or residential real estate commanding top dollar, such the old
Maxwell House factory in Hoboken and the Domino Sugar refinery in Brooklyn,
both of which have been converted into luxury apartments.
Restoration and reconditioning of these old factories often
uncovers many interesting architectural and industrial artifacts from an era
gone by. Beneath layers of paint and
dirt, hidden in corners or in plain view, items that might have been considered
junk in the recent past are increasingly salvaged and reused, or find rebirth
as objects of value and beauty. One
good example is the reuse of old materials in the refurbished Philadelphia Navy
Shipyard.
Many manufacturing plants constructed during the mid-20th
century utilized materials that have proved to be hazardous over time. Regardless of whether an old factory is
slated to be refurbished or demolished, there are environmental, health and
safety issues that must be addressed along the way. Toxic materials like asbestos, lead paint, PCBs and contaminated
soil must be safely contained and removed, and the site restored to code
compliance.
R.
Baker & Son has been instrumental in countless relocation, select
demolition, remediation and reconditioning projects to the complete
satisfaction of our clients. As a
leader in our industry servicing customers throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico,
Canada and Europe, R. Baker & Son should be your first choice for your
project.
R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services is the premier specialized contractor in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) has been in business since 1935, has over 100 employees, an exemplary safety record (We have been directly involved in four (4) sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards) and is financially strong (bonding capabilities over $10 Million). Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery & plant moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, wrecking, selective demolition , demolition contractors in NJ and warehousing.
R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Website: www.rbaker.com
