As global supply chains realign and tariffs reshape the global manufacturing landscape, plant operators are under pressure to act decisively.
Companies that had never considered onshoring are now scrambling to either acquire a domestic site or bring capacity back here from overseas.
International Process Plants of Princeton Junction is in no such panic.
Whether it’s expanding capacity in the U.S., adjusting operations to meet market needs abroad, or improving ESG performance, IPP Vice President Ross Gale said the company stands out as a uniquely capable partner, ever responding to changing conditions.
Why? IPP has seen it all.
With more than 47 years in business and operations in 15 countries, IPP is the world’s largest seller of used process plants and equipment. At any given time, the company may be selling plant sites, systems or equipment to partners who need to quickly boost capacity or buy idled assets in other parts of the world.
BINJE recently spoke with Gale to understand how the family-owned company is positioned to deliver in times of uncertainty.
Here’s a bit of the conversation, edited for space and clarity.
BINJE: Tariffs and trade tensions have pushed many manufacturers to reassess their footprints. What are you seeing on the ground?
Ross Gale: It’s a seismic shift. We’ve seen companies that had no intention of making changes now urgently pursuing North American capacity — either by adding domestic sites or bringing capacity home from overseas. Tariffs are only one piece. Rising energy costs in Europe, political volatility in parts of Asia and the growing demand for supply chain resiliency across industries are all feeding this movement.
The cost of doing nothing is becoming higher than the cost of making bold decisions. And that’s where we can come in and work with a wide range of companies to make the best strategic decisions for today, tomorrow and beyond.
BINJE: How is IPP positioned to help companies move quickly in response to those pressures?
RG: We provide complete plants and equipment systems that are available immediately. Unlike new construction, where you wait 24 months to five years for engineering, permitting and construction, we can cut that to a few months by utilizing existing facilities, and in half the time of new plant relocation projects.
We currently have 20 complete manufacturing sites for sale to be restarted and more than 110 complete unit operations ready to be moved to your site. That’s a game-changer for companies that need capacity now.
BINJE: What kind of capital savings are we talking about?
RG: Our customers routinely save 50% to 70% versus the cost of building from scratch. When you buy a high-quality plant from IPP or equipment from our inventory, you’re skipping lead times, inflation risk and a whole lot of soft costs. In many cases, our clients can move into production in a fraction of the time it would take for a new build — often within a year — and save tens of millions in capital costs by leveraging existing assets. That’s the kind of value we bring.
While your competitors are thinking about and planning their 5-year, billion-dollar project, you are halfway or better to production.
BINJE: Where do GPS and UGE, which I understand are part of the IPP Group of Companies, fit into this picture?
RG: GPS and UGE are our secret weapons. GPS — Gale Process Solutions — offers new and custom-built process equipment for the pharma, food and chemical industries. We work with top-tier manufacturers, purchase their unused capacity to build equipment designed to our specifications, and deliver those high-spec stainless steel and alloy reactors, dryers, filters, heat exchangers and more to our stockyards in the U.S. and Europe. Our approach trims lead times by 90% and delivers 20% to 25% in savings compared to traditional OEMs — but with immediate availability. For special applications that do not fit our broad range of stocked standard designs, we also custom fabricate with short lead times due to our supply chain. UGE — Universal Glasteel Equipment — focuses on the glass-lined market. We offer new, re-glassed and rebuilt equipment and parts, including work from our ASME-certified facility in Eastover, South Carolina. Glass-lined vessels are critical in pharma and specialty chemicals, and UGE gives customers options: buy new, re-glass what you have, or buy used — all with fast turnaround and quality you can count on. We stock hundreds of vessels — new, re-glassed and used — at any given time, and that will meet or exceed your design and quality standards.
BINJE: Many companies are also looking to offload idle or underutilized assets. Is IPP buying right now?
RG: Absolutely. We’re aggressively acquiring plants, equipment systems and complete sites that are no longer part of a company’s core strategy. Whether it’s due to geopolitical shifts, new technologies or sustainability mandates, we make the process turnkey. We evaluate, purchase and remove everything — land, equipment, IP, you name it.
It’s one point of contact. No headaches.
BINJE: Let’s talk about ESG. How does IPP support companies looking to reduce their environmental impact?
RG: It’s baked into our model. Every time we repurpose a plant or a piece of equipment, we’re extending its useful life and keeping valuable materials out of landfills. We recycle or reuse 95% of all materials in a typical decommissioning project. Add in our ISN RAVS Plus certification, and you’ve got a trusted partner which delivers on sustainability and safety.
BINJE: What do customers say about working with IPP?
RG: The feedback we hear most often is: “You made it easy.” Whether they’re buying, selling or needing advice, we handle the complexities. That’s 47 years of experience, 160,000 customer relationships and a global network speaking. We’re not just vendors — we’re collaborators. And we’re in the business of building trust.
BINJE: If someone is on the fence about making a move — buying or selling — what should they know?
RG: That we’re here, ready to learn about their specific needs, and that timing matters. The companies that act now will secure the best assets and gain a competitive advantage. If you’re closing a facility, we are the responsible partner to take that idled facility, address its potential environmental issues and give it new life in its highest and best use — something we have done successfully dozens of times throughout the U.S. and Europe. IPP, GPS and UGE give you flexibility, speed and value in a way that no one else can.
Whether you’re buying a full plant, selling surplus equipment or custom-building a new system, we’re your partner. And in times like these, having a partner you can count on is everything.
