Roll Up Doors – a family affair!

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Worldwide Roll Up Door and Security Gate leader

As a division of CornellCookson, Cookson Door is a leading roll up door and security gate producer with facilities in Goodyear, AZ and Mountain Top, PA. The company manufactures roll up doors, fire rated doors, security gates, overhead garage door, roll up garage doors, insulated garage door, counter doors, folding wall partitions and other custom closure solutions found in commercial buildings., hospitals, sports venues, museums and hotels. No matter if it’s a roll up door or any of our other closure and security products, Cookson Door’s products can be found in many facilities where reliability, safety and security is vital. Cookson Door is committed to providing the highest quality, domestically-manufactured solutions, and its brands have operated within the United States since 1828. Products are sold through a network of more than 700 dealer partners worldwide to ensure competitive pricing through equal and alternate brands.

Roll Up Doors - Keeping it in the family

Roll up doors has been a family affair for Cookson door once Harold W. Cookson Sr. and his wife, Dorothy Cookson start The Cookson Company in 1938. Operating in a 2,300 square foot plant, their first order is for an 8' x 10' service door that sold for $92. As overhead door orders increased, Harold W. Cookson Jr. and Robert A. Cookson, sons of Harold Sr. and Dorothy, join the family business after returning home from the war. David E. Cookson later joins in 1957.

Overhead Roll Up Door Innovation leaders

Overhead garage door innovation has always been a staple at Cookson Door. To further branch out, Cookson introduces the first extruded aluminum counter door in 1952. This was followed by counter fire doors in 1957. As business continues to expand, there is a higher demand for more customized roll up garage doors. After surveying architects, the first prepainted roll up door slat curtain is introduced in grey, as suggested by the architects in 1960. This is further expanded upon in 1980 when Cookson introduces FinalCote, the first finish-painted rolling door. The color tan is selected to match the earth-tone buildings in the Southeast. Tan soon becomes and roll up door industry standard.

Growing and expanding the roll up garage door business

As the roll up garage door industry grows, Cookson is at the forefront. To better service nationwide demand, Cookson opens a new manufacturing facility in Gastonia, NC in 1978. Robert's sons, Bob and Jim Cookson, run the facility. Increased demand fuels two renovations that were completed in 1985. In the western part of the nations, Cookson's headquarters and western manufacturing facility moves from San Francisco to Phoenix, Arizona in 1990. This allows both state of the art roll up door and security gate manufacturing plants to best serve the entire country.

Looking to the future or overhead roll up doors

As Bob, Jim, and Richard Cookson assume ownership of the Cookson Company, the company continues to lead in innovations. Advances in insulated garage door, fire rated doors, counter doors and many new overhead garage door improvements propel the business. As such, the Cookson family receives IDA's prestigious Heritage Award, recognizing Cookson's contribution to the well-being and heritage of the door and access systems industry in 2007.


2008 - Cornell Enterprises completes its acquisition of The Cookson Company, a premiere rolling door manufacturer. Cornell plans to grow both the Cornell and Cookson brands, leveraging the opportunities and efficiencies that being the largest U.S. rolling door manufacturer provides. Aligning the leadership, manufacturing, sales and distribution channels of these two closure product brands will create market leading solutions and support for the design community.

Cookson continues to lead in innovations in roll up door, security gate and closure products. To inquire how Cookson's experts and customer service can help you with your next roll up door project, call 1-800-294-4358!