Fine craftsmanship and quality material is increasing overseas business for at least one Jamestown manufacturer.
Dawson Doors, 825 Allen St., is in the process of finishing a 46-door, 29-entrance project for the Rosewood Hotel & Resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Rosewood is a state-of-the-art, newly constructed, luxury 34-story hotel located in the heart of Abu Dhabi's business district.
Not only is Dawson Doors making the doors for the hotel in the Persian Gulf, but the order was made by a company in Beijing, China.
Article Photos
From left, Ken Berlund, Roger Fuller, Steve Mathews and Roman Arrance, Dawson Doors employees, are pictured with one of the doors that will be installed as part of the entrance to the Rosewood Hotel & Resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
P-J photo by Dennis Phillips
''It is unique for us to be selling to a Chinese company and then them selling the doors to a Middle East business,'' said Phil Harrington, Dawson Doors project manager. ''It is a trend we are seeing more and more.''
Julia Ingrao, Dawson Doors sales director, said the contract to build the doors was with Beijing Jangho Curtain Wall Co. Ltd.
''This is a truly international project which should provide our Jamestown company with additional worldwide recognition,'' Ingrao said.
Harrington said businesses abroad are taking advantage of Dawson's quality and custom-made products that are suited for high-profile, high-traffic applications.
''They just can't get these types of products anywhere else, but here,'' Harrington said. ''Everybody here (at Dawson Doors) is really proud of what we do.''
Harrington, along with Chuck McNeal, Dawson Doors senior project manager, said the project took about 14 weeks to complete.
''When it comes to quantity and the size of the doors, it was up there,'' Harrington said about the scale of the project. ''Usually, a typical job, you're talking two to 10 doors being made.''
David Dawson, Dawson Doors president and chief executive officer, said the business has seen an increase an inquires from big architectural firms in China, Japan and the Middle East in recent years.
''Dawson Doors has placed product all over the world and currently are preparing a number of other jobs for export,'' he said.
For more information on the Rosewood, visit rosewoodhotels.com/en/abudhabi. For more information on Dawson Doors, visit dawsondoors.com.