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Elaghil Trading - Countertops Division
Location: Sana'a, Yemen
Products: Avonite and Hannex
Market Area: Yemen and adjoining Arab States
Facility Size: 5,000 sq. ft.
Employees: 20
President/Owner: Dr. Ahmed Elaghil
General Manager: Khalid Eleghil
Materials fabricated in shop: Residential and commercial solid surface countertops, cabinets, kiosks and signage
Year established: 1927
“Hands-On” training is one of the things I do for a living is training. With 31 years of practical experience working as a Fabricator, I have learned a little bit about this industry, and it gives me great joy to pass on many of the techniques I have learned over the years to people that are willing to learn.
I work with folks that are brand new to the “industry” – what I call “never-evers” – that have never held a power tool in their hands and don’t know the difference between a “slab” and a “sheet” – let alone a grinder or a polisher. I also work with craftsmen that have the required skill sets to take on a new discipline, such as countertop fabrication, but may need remedial help in refining their abilities to conform with what it takes to be a real “Fabricator” (with a CAPITAL “F”).
Such is the case recently when a company that read one of my Surface Fabrication articles contacted me in April of 2009 to see if I would be interested in training a number of their staff in the fine art of countertop fabrication. The interesting part of this story (aside from it all being true) is that the company is located in the heart of the Middle East – in The Republic of Yemen. It quickly became apparent that sending close to 20 of its office and shop personnel to my training school located in Phoenix, Ariz., would be cost prohibitive. Instead, it was suggested that I come to them to present “Education On Location,” a hands-on training and consulting program held at the client’s location – and in this case, Yemen.
Having never been to the Middle East, but having an absolute love for international travel, I was intrigued by not only the opportunity to do this, but also by the “adventure” factor. Here I was, a Fabricator from Arizona – pondering what the possibilities were involved in planning and executing a trip to Yemen for two weeks of on-site training. It did not take me long to decide that – in spite of my total lack of familiarity with the Middle Eastern culture and Yemeni customs in particular – I decided the opportunity was worth the effort, and I was committed to going.
