close proximity to Cape Canaveral .
Starting with a partnership with Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University at the MicaPlex , Wren said the location was the selling
S & B Metal Products point . “ We help provide the communications between the earth and the satellites ,” says Wren . “ We provide the link between the uplink and the downlink , so the piece that connects space to the group is what we provide for the satellite .
“ We are close to where the satellites are going up , and it ’ s nice to be close to our potential customers .”
Globally Arralis employs around 40 people , but COVID has delayed hiring engineers in Volusia for the time being .
“ We just opened here earlier this year , but we can ’ t hire right now because we can ’ t send engineers to the UK for training ,” says Wren . “ So for now I am the only employee , but once travel opens back up , I will be hiring at least five engineers and additional testing technicians .”
While the pandemic has hampered opening plans , Wren says the company is still happy to be in Volusia .
“ We are excited to be here in our 4,000-square- foot facility ,” she says . “ We will be getting that in full operation by the end of 2021 along with the machines we are ordering . We do have a permanent space here , and we ’ ve signed a five-year lease . We are excited to continue to grow .”
Brent Cessna
S & B METAL PRODUCTS
S & B Metal Products started in Macedonia , Ohio in 1974 , expanding several times to Florida over the years –– first to Lakeland in 1986 , then to Bradenton in 1998 .
“ In 2002 , we opened a facility in Daytona Beach ,” says Brent Cessna , vice president of operations for the East Florida division . “ We like doing business in Volusia County . It is perfectly situated on the intersection of I-95 and I-4 corridors .
“ And we are able to service the Space Coast and the many business opportunities that it offers , which include airport support equipment and first responder / military vehicles .”
Those are some of the items that S & B Metal Products of East Florida makes .
“ We supply component parts to the production of airport support equipment and component parts for first responder vehicles ,” says Cessna . “ Although those are the two biggest industries served , we also service other industries such as bottling / capping , the food industry , and the pet care industry as well .
“ We are a full-service manufacturing company with laser , bend , saw , machining , welding , and painting capabilities . In addition , we are American owned and proudly support other American businesses .”
Cessna says the company is in a 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that employs 15-20 employees at any given time .
“ The future is bright for manufacturing in Volusia County ,” says VMA ’ s Jayne Fifer .
Indeed , with the location of aerospace businesses along the Space Coast , and transportation infrastructure along the I-4 and I-95 corridors , the door is open wide to attract new companies from across the United States and the globe .
Only outer space seems to be the limit .
Patrick Evans-Hylton is an award-winning journalist , having covering a wide variety of topics in broadcast , electronic , and print media since 1995 .