Sanford firm expanding aluminum production

Calling tariffs helpful, Benada will add dozens of jobs by September

Benada Aluminum is adding dozens of jobs for a new production line at its Sanford factory as tariffs imposed by the Trump administration “have leveled the playing field” for domestic producers, the company said.

It is the first Central Florida company to say that it is benefiting from the tariffs.

The expansion will add 35 jobs — and by September it will bring Benada’s number of jobs created since 2015 to as many as 140.

Demand for U.S.-made aluminum goods has risen because the 10 percent tariff on foreign aluminum has made domestic prices more competitive, said Jim Piperato, president of Benada.

Factories around the world can be subsidized by governments or benefit from lower energy costs to run operations, he said.

Benada’s ability to benefit runs counter to another Central Florida manufacturer, boat builder Correct Craft, which said Monday it could be forced to lay off 200 people if a trade war escalates.

Benada imports aluminum from South America and the Middle East to make its products; those are two regions that President Donald Trump has not targeted with tariffs.

The company makes parts for patio enclosures, fences and other uses.

Damage from Hurricane Irma swayed the board last year to go ahead with the new production line, which already had been in the works, Piperato said.

“Once that hit, that solidified that there was a need,” he said.

Many of the employees have been hired for the line that begins operation Friday, Piperato said.

It could be running 24 hours a day by September, after training takes place for positions such as die correctors and managers.

The company also is using apprenticeships to give workers experience.

Skilled workers can make in the mid-$20s hourly.

“Large capital assets don’t do real well with startup and shutdown,” Piperato said. “Once you put one in, you try to run it 24-7.”

But tariffs can create a moving target if countries reroute products, Piperato said.

“The problem for the import side, and the classic example is China, you can put a tariff on China, and now they’re dropping product though Vietnam into the U.S.,” he said.

“There’s more coming from Vietnam than they can produce … Australia has put tariffs on Vietnam,” Piperato added. “Eventually, they’ll move to another country.”