Event attendees network before the panel discussion.

Panelists for the ULI Philadelphia Industrial Council’s Making it in USA – The Future of Manufacturing spoke to a capacity crowd on February 11, 2025. Moderated by Matthew Hohorst of ARCO Design/Build, the nation’s largest pureplay design/build construction company, the panel concluded that the region offers many advantages for new industrial development and that simplifying the process for our existing home-grown manufacturers to expand and thrive will be key to success.

Panelist Adam Pitel, CEO of Magna-Power Electronics is in the business of making high-power programmable DC power supplies. His vertically integrated manufacturing operation in Flemington, NJ needs what the panelists agreed were essential elements: Access to power and a trained workforce. Michael Hanes, Senior Research Manager with Cushman and Wakefield demonstrated a powerful GIS based platform which mapped vital data like population density, workforce expertise by occupational codes, power infrastructure and transportation, as examples. Hanes’ map showed that there are still parts of our region where land is not at a premium price that have industrial strengths.

The panel discussed ground up versus adaptive reuse. Magna Power, like many industrial operations, has specific needs like strong foundations and ceilings to hold machinery and automation, more parking than the typical warehouse and a traffic pattern allows for a flow of products and materials in and out. Hohorst shared some ARCO success stories, including reuse of a vacant grocery store and design best practices using ARCO’s “Flex Shell” that allows for maximum adaptive reuse.

Pitel said that other states take a more aggressive approach to recruit manufacturing operations. Hohorst suggested a “sherpa” or “czar” approach to getting all required parties to the table and streamlining approvals. Justin Gray, President and CEO, Gray Global Advisors, advises both foreign and domestic businesses and organizations on the implications of public policy and incentives. Gray said that much is uncertain now at the Federal level and in the coming month when budgets are finalized, we will see what policies and programs are put into place. Gray pointed out that although discussions are moving away from climate initiatives which were at the core of the Green New Deal, there is still an emphasis on reshoring and the national security/supply chain which will benefit manufacturing. He counselled, and panelists agreed, that our region has the ingredients for success and that the Governor’s office needs to improve connectivity with Federal programs. A large part of growth in the region will come from established companies that are here now, like Magna-Power.

Panel Discussion: Making it in the USA: The Future of Manufacturing

The ULI Philadelphia Industrial Product Council meets regularly and hosts several public events per year. If you are interested in joining the council and have experience and a perspective on industrial development please reach out to Charlene Drake or Liz Gabor, Council Co-Chairs or learn more: Get Involved | ULI Philadelphia.

ULI would like to thank its event sponsor, whose support made this program possible: Arco Design/Build. Special thanks to Liz Gabor and Charlene Drake, Industrial Local Product Council Co-Chairs for putting this program together.

Contributed by Charlene Drake. Drake is a Senior Principal Geologist at Terraphase Engineering. She is a Co-Chair of the Industrial Local Product Council for the ULI Philadelphia District Council.