Ben Dawson Design & Transcal

Scottish Leather Upholstery Manufacturer Transcal and Furniture Designer Ben Dawson bring their firms closer together.

INVESTMENT

Scottish entrepreneur Robert Aitken of TRANSCAL and furniture designer BEN DAWSON have reached agreement to invest in a joint venture between their businesses. This six-figure investment will enable the firms to respond to increasing demand for specialised design and innovation opportunities around the globe.

BACKGROUND

Ben Dawson is currently focused on the architectural and interior design markets for high-end bespoke and standard furniture in the UK and overseas. Transcal is the market leader in leather interiors in the automotive, aerospace and rail sectors. In recent years the two companies have collaborated on several projects for customers including Shell Oil, Hakkasan Restaurants, Toyota and Mitsubishi.

NEW BUSINESS

Ben Dawson and Robert Aitken will be directors and shareholders in the new business, Ben Dawson Design, and Ben will be appointed Design Director of Transcal Limited. The businesses will continue to trade separately but will be working on many projects jointly providing their respective customers with an enhanced portfolio of products and services.

NEW PRODUCTS

Ben Dawson Design has a pipeline of new products in development including a collection of upholstered seating in collaboration with Paris-based designer Marion Guidoni; new variations of the award winning Cirrus table system and a unique home office product. A new collection of fine upholstery leather is also being created offering customers unlimited choice of colour, grain and finish.

OPPORTUNITIES

The new venture will penetrate luxury markets for Ben Dawson branded products worldwide as well as providing product design and innovation services to Transcal’s customers. Ben Dawson Design and Transcal are currently working on designs for sports car interiors for a leading Japanese manufacturer. In another recent business win Ben Dawson was appointed to design furniture for the Kuwaiti Parliament and manufacturing will begin shortly. Transcal’s established presence in Asian markets has already resulted in opportunities to provide design and manufacturing solutions for customers in hotel, restaurant and transport sectors.

EMPLOYMENT

Transcal and Ben Dawson Design employ around 100 people at their facilities in Livingston and Musselburgh, Scotland and have further extensive operations in Singapore and Poland. As a result of this deal further new jobs will be created in Scotland, particularly in product design and technical roles.

MORE INFO

For further information, please contact:

Ben Dawson
Managing Director - Ben Dawson Design Limited
Design Director - Transcal Limited

Robert Aitken
Managing Director - Transcal Limited
Director - Ben Dawson Design Limited

Ben Dawson Design Limited
Inveresk Mills Industrial Park
Musselbrugh
Edinburgh
Scotland UK
EH21 7UQ

T: +44 (0)131 653 6505
info@bendawson.com
www.bendawson.com

Transcal Limited
Firth Road
Houstoun Industrial Estate
Livingston
West Lothian UK
EH54 5DJ

T: +44 (0)1506 440 111
info@transcal.co.uk