Butech Awards Second Round of Employee Bonuses

SALEM, Ohio — Employees at Butech Bliss Inc. were informed last week that they’ll be seeing more money in their pockets, as the company plans to distribute a second round of employee bonuses because of the strong rebound in the steel industry.

“The outlook for our industry is positive and, based on many factors, will remain so in the foreseeable future,” said Jock Buta, executive vice president.

For the second time this year, all 286 employees will receive bonuses as a result of improved business across the manufacturing sector. Butech manufactures heavy equipment used in the steel and metals industries.

Lisa Liposchak, marketing manager, said this is the second round of employee bonuses paid out this year. “The first bonuses came in March,” she said, and the industry has improved since then. Butech has declined to divulge how much employees are receiving.

Among the factors helping Butech’s business are the 25% tariffs that the Trump Administration has imposed on imported steel and aluminum products. “Ever since the tariffs, it’s opened the floodgates for steel companies,” she said. “There’s a huge backlog of orders.”

Butech Bliss engineers and manufactures heavy machinery used for metals production and processing and ships to more than 40 countries.

The company recently manufactured a new Bu-Trax system, a large tension leveler used in the steel industry, Liposchak said. “We came up with the design, engineered it, manufactured the components and welded each piece,” she said. Once the leveler is finished, it will be dismantled and delivered to a steel company in Alabama, she said.

Liposchak said that the company is looking to hire additional employees as business picks up more steam. Specifically, Butech is looking for electrical and mechanical engineers, machinists, welders, assemblers, and general laborers.

Benefits for full-time employees at the company include a premium free health-care plan, a 401 (k) plan, company outings to amusement parks, a dinner cruise and a Christmas party. Nightshift employees have the opportunity to earn $8,500 above their annual base pay as a result of a recently improved shift differential.

“We’ve been on a hiring spree for the last year,” Liposchak said. “There are a lot of positions. We’d be happy if we could pick up about 50 more.”

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