Sangamon Sun

President Donald Trump has already boosted U.S. manufacturers' outlook, the president of a company that moved from Illinois to Indiana recently said on a Chicago-based radio talk show.

Trump's election has made all the difference, Hoist Liftruck President Vincent Flaska said during a recent edition of "Illinois Rising."

Manufacturer: Trump's election alone has improved industry outlook | Contributed photo

"I think it's huge for manufacturing," Flaska said. "If you just look at U.S. steel alone, how much steel output has risen since he's been, basically, the president-elect, it's impressive. Even for us as a manufacturer and a lot of other heavy-equipment manufacturers, we were seeing a downward trend in sales orders. Three days after Trump was elected, we received some pretty large orders from larger manufacturers, steel plants. So it's a really positive outlook for us."

"Illinois Rising" is a presentation of the Illinois Policy Institute.

Flaska said he has seen changes in his industry over the past few months, dating back to before the election.

"Steel used to be dirt cheap," he said. "About two, three months ago, we've seen the steel prices increase 15 percent to 20 percent over the board. So, yeah, the cost of material might be more for us, but it's better for everybody else. The entire business environment, manufacturing, is better in the U.S."

Flaska's company, Hoist Liftruck, is a manufacturer of high-capacity lift-trucks, from heavy-duty cushion tire and pneumatic forklifts to container handlers and reach stackers, ranging from seven to 57 tons, all made in the U.S.

However, the company no longer makes everything in Bedford Park, where it had been since 1998, but has largely moved to East Chicago, Indiana, where Flaska said his company is enjoying a more business-friendly environment.

Observations about how Trump's election is raising the spirits of the nation's businesses and manufacturers are not unique to Flaska.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Texas business owners have been closely watching Trump’s comments about NAFTA, while U.S. News & World Reports has said Trump's choice of Linda McMahon to head the U.S. Small Business Administration is especially attractive in the business community.

Elsewhere, other news outlets report that small businesses are hoping for more deregulation under Trump's administration that will encourage investment in women-owned companies and generally champion their causes, despite some of the president's less encouraging remarks about aspiring entrepreneurs.

Flaska said there's hope that the incoming Trump administration will do something to slow down the exodus of companies, like his, from Illinois. Flaska said he's been talking to former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who is now the vice president, particularly during the period when it was decided to move Hoist Liftruck to Indiana.

"He did an amazing job getting us an appealing contract," Flaska said.

By contrast, trying to work with government officials in Illinois was not that great, he added.

"There was a lack of communication," Flaska said. "Maybe they were underfunded, they didn't have enough manpower vs. when dealing with Indiana. It was a lot different."

While that was how things worked out on an interstate level, Flaska said he and other U.S. manufacturers are hoping for change under the new Trump administration to help with international business, particularly those businesses that employ workers overseas.

"That's hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs that should be in the U.S.," Flaska said. "I think that's something that will be addressed in the next administration, which is why you see that business is good for manufacturers right now, and there's a real positive outlook."