Thermoforming Report

Manufacturing Trends in Focus: A Multi-Lens View

Industry trends don’t change – but the lens through which we view them does. One market shift. Four lenses. One shows growth for executives. Another signals pressure on operations. Sales sees opportunity. HR sees talent challenges. Same signal, four very different stories.

In this edition of The Thermoforming Report, we’re putting on four different pairs of glasses – Leadership, Operations, Sales, and HR – to see how the same forces are shaping very different priorities across manufacturing.

So what trends are shaping the manufacturing landscape right now?

A review of several industry analyses points to a wave of large-scale capital investment across multiple sectors, including semiconductors, electric vehicles and batteries, clean energy manufacturing, and large-scale battery “gigafactories.” These projects represent billions of dollars in investment and are driving significant manufacturing job growth across the United States.

Many of these facilities are rising in Texas (the highest total new jobs), Georgia, Florida, Utah (fastest growth rate), Arizona, and Idaho, and in traditional manufacturing hubs like Ohio and Michigan. According to ETQ’s analysis, “Where Manufacturing Jobs Are Projected to Grow the Most,” these regions are expected to see some of the largest increases in manufacturing employment in the coming years.

Leadership Lens

For executive leaders, industry trends aren’t just interesting data points – they’re signals. Signals about growth, capacity, workforce needs, and profitability. Every market shift has ripple effects across your organization.

The key is deciding what these signals mean for your strategy. Where do you double down? Where do you pivot? Where do you make tough calls? That’s what separates leaders who react from leaders who anticipate.

Beyond the obvious investment trends, two additional forces are shaping manufacturing today, according to a “The 2026 Manufacturing Shifts You Can’t Ignore” Forbes article. First: AI. Analytics, predictive maintenance, intelligent planning tools – they’re no longer optional experiments. They’re becoming table stakes. Ignore them at your own peril.

Second: external pressures. Geopolitical tensions, trade policy, tariffs – they’re constantly reshaping supply chains, capital decisions, and long-term risk. Every leader needs to keep an eye on them. Ignoring these forces? Not an option.

The challenge? It’s not enough to see these trends coming. The winners are the organizations that act early – investing in people, processes, and technology before pressure arrives. And pressure always arrives.

Operations Lens

At first glance, the thermoforming industry may not appear to be directly tied to many of these mega-projects. But operations leaders are already seeing some of the ripple effects.

For those managing operations, the implications often surface as a series of practical questions. What happens when skilled trades such as millwrights, electricians, and industrial contractors are pulled toward massive construction and startup projects? Will those same resources still be available to support your own capital installations, plant expansions, or major maintenance initiatives?

Then there is the broader competition for manufacturing talent. As new facilities come online, technicians, maintenance professionals, and production talent are often drawn toward these projects by competitive wages and long-term career opportunities. What does that mean for the teams you are actively trying to recruit – or retain?

And as sales teams pursue opportunities tied to these expanding industries, operations must also be ready to respond. How quickly can your plant introduce new products, scale production, or adapt processes to support emerging markets?

Finally, operations can’t ignore digital tools. Data systems, analytics, AI insights – they’re now part of everyday plant life. Installing them is one thing. Making sure your team actually uses them? That’s where the real work – and real advantage – comes in.

Sales Lens

For sales teams, industry investment trends usually spell one thing: opportunity.

Thermoforming may not be building the semiconductor fabs or battery gigafactories, but the ripple effects across the broader manufacturing ecosystem can create meaningful demand.

Watch closely – the opportunities are everywhere. Heavy-gauge thermoforming? Obvious fit – cooling tower fills, material handling products (pallets, trays, etc.), protective housings, durable packaging. Thin-gauge? Don’t sleep on it. It’s quietly moving, storing, and protecting parts all through these sprawling supply chains.

And then there’s the bigger picture: supporting industries. Just like automotive manufacturing gave rise to networks of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 suppliers, these new mega-projects will draw clusters of infrastructure providers, equipment suppliers, and service companies. That’s an entire network of potential customers opening up around these plants.

For sales teams paying attention, the question isn’t if there’s opportunity – it’s where to find it first. Which components, which packaging, which services could your company provide before someone else does? That’s where the real advantage lies.

HR/Talent Lens

Let’s just say: if your plant is anywhere near one of these mega-facilities, you’re going to feel it. No matter which HR glasses you put on, the challenge in front of you is massive. Thousands of skilled professionals – technicians, maintenance specialists, engineers, plant managers – will be drawn to these new projects. Even in highly automated factories, experienced talent is still what keeps things running smoothly.

In many cases, that talent already lives in your backyard. As these mega-projects come online, companies nearby will be competing for the same people you’re trying to recruit – or hang onto. It’s a challenge HR teams have faced for years, but the scale of investment today makes it feel like a whole new level.

And yes, automation will reduce some headcount. But don’t be fooled – those roles that remain will demand higher technical skills. You’ll need people who can operate sophisticated equipment, make sense of data, and support highly automated production lines.

The bottom line for HR leaders: no matter which lens you’re wearing, this isn’t just about filling seats. It’s about building strategies to attract, develop, and hold onto the skilled talent that keeps modern manufacturing running. The stakes are high. The payoff? Huge – for those who act first.

Putting It All Into Focus

Viewed individually, each of these perspectives highlights a different implication of today’s manufacturing trends. Look at them together, and the full picture hits you all at once – an industry navigating rapid investment, evolving technology, and fierce competition for talent.

A recent Forbes article referencing Fictiv’s annual State of Manufacturing and Supply Chain report captured this reality well:

“Running through every section of this report is a common thread: the strongest manufacturing organizations make foundational decisions early. They invest in supplier relationships, production processes, and data infrastructure before pressure arrives – and pressure always arrives.”

“… and pressure always arrives”. Yep. And it always will.

It’s a simple truth: markets shift. Supply chains evolve. New technologies reshape the way products are made. You can’t predict every disruption – but the companies that act early – in strategy, operations, technology, and talent – are the ones that will adapt and thrive.

You might not be building a battery gigafactory yourself. But make no mistake – the ripples are coming your way. Navigating this landscape takes strong leadership, smart operations, proactive sales, and – above all – the talented people who make it all work.

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