Centennial Connecticut aluminum maker shuts down, citing Trump-era tariffs and soaring costs

Leed-Himmel Industries, a custom aluminum manufacturer based in Hamden, Connecticut, is ceasing operations after more than a century in business. Owner Howard Goldfarb attributed the decision to a combination of escalating operating expenses, such as a half-million-dollar power bill, rising insurance premiums, and $160,000 in annual property taxes. He said tariffs imposed during Donald Trump’s administration increased material costs and compelled him to pre-pay for inventory, which he described as the final nail in the coffin.

A potential sale to a European investor fell through after the president announced military action against Iran, further dimming prospects for a rescue. The plant’s shutdown eliminates a stable source of jobs and local tax contributions, and Goldfarb hopes the facility will remain a manufacturing site rather than be repurposed for storage.