For over two decades we have taken pride in our products and dedication to quality. Being a family owned company, we understand traditions and community lifestyle. As a company, Daws Manufacturing is an active participant in the community and sponsor to various charities. Read our company timeline below to learn more about our origins.
1989
Daws Manufacturing Company, Inc. was established in March and purchased Betterbuilt Company. Following this acquisition, a second Florida aluminum truck toolbox manufacturing company was acquired in June 1990 - the automotive division of Aluminum Fabricated Products, the original aluminum truck toolbox manufacturer in the United States.
1992
In September, Daws moved to its present corporate home at 8811 Grow Drive, Ellyson Industrial Park, in Pensacola, Florida. The manufacturing operations building and office facilities allowed Daws to have all manufacturing phases of the AFP and Better Built® product lines in one location.
A third division, Better Built® Accessories, was established in 1992 to provide quality aluminum truck bed accessories for Daws' customers. December 1994 brought another addition with a sales/distribution center opening in Las Vegas, Nevada. Increased business and the need for enhanced service for the West Coast necessitated this expansion.
1995
In February, Daws acquired Road Quest from Fabwell, Inc. This 13-year old firm, based in Elkhart, Indiana, produced automotive aftermarket products of aluminum. Road Quest also produced several composite material products in its facility.
Monroe Bulldog Truck Accessories in Parsons, Tennessee was acquired in September 1995 adding to the automotive aftermarket group. Known for top-quality tubular products in steel, Bulldog Truck Accessories had emerged as the leader of these products in the U.S.
1996
A division of Everybody’s Truck Accessories in Grand Junction, Colorado was acquired in December. This company was the preeminent innovator and manufacturer of stainless steel hood shields in the U.S. marketplace.
The Las Vegas distribution center moved to Henderson, Nevada in February 1999 in order to double the available space as now required by the West Coast customer base. The addition of a truck box manufacturing facility in Juarez, Mexico in fall, 1999 positioned Daws to increase the volume of products flowing to the West. It also allowed the Pensacola location to serve customers in other sections of the country better and faster. In 2000, the Elkhart location was closed moving all manufacturing and distribution processes to Pensacola in order to increase customer service efficiencies.
2003
An expansion was completed in Juarez that tripled available space and allowed a doubling of production capability. Additional warehouse space was contracted in Santa Theresa, New Mexico to provide a buffer facility for both raw materials into Juarez and finished products coming out of Juarez. The Henderson facility was closed and Santa Theresa is now being fully utilized as a shipping point. In April, the Parsons facility was closed as Daws turned its efforts globally by partnering with an overseas company to manufacture its tubular product line.
2008
Better Built shifts the majority of tool box production to it's Juarez facility and begins re-tooling it's Pensacola facility for more specialized high-tech manufacturing needs.
2009
Looking to expand market share, Better Built continues it's investments in new technology and machinery to provide more accurate and timely manufacturing as well as saving money on the production line. One of the major investments was a laser cutting machine for precision manufacturing. In addition, Daws Manufacturing is transitioning into the era of robotics with it's investments in robotic welding arms.
2010
Better Built begins implementation of ISO-9001:2008 standards.
Innovation, quality products, customer service and a philosophy of response to customer needs are among the many reasons Daws Better Built has become the leader in the truck accessory aftermarket. “Better Built means satisfying the customer chain all the way to the retail customer/end user. Simply put, being 'Better Built' means a higher standard in everything we do.
