Latex International, a producer of Talalay latex mattresses and pillows based in Shelton, Conn., has opened a 100,000–square–foot fabrication facility in Wichita Falls, Texas. At the same time, the company has closed its production facility in Atlanta. The changes are part of a larger strategy to reorganize how the company’s products are fabricated and distributed.
As part of the transformation, Latex International has contracted with Unisource Logistics Solutions to reduce lead times by utilizing their warehousing, cross–docking capabilities, inventory management and distribution services. Unisource has a fleet of more than 500 vehicles, as well as contracts with hundreds of private trucking companies across the United States. In addition, the company has 80 warehouse distribution centers.
Latex International’s Connecticut fabrication site will continue to service its customers in the Northeast.
“LI’s ability to centralize our latex inventory (produced in our Connecticut foam pouring plant) will create greater production efficiencies, minimize ‘stock–outs’ and provide more consistent and improved on–time delivery,” said Kevin Coleman, Latex International president and chief executive officer. “The new facility is twice the size of our facility in Atlanta, and LI will have the fabrication capacity to triple the output that we are currently producing.”
The second phase of the project will include closing Latex International’s facility in La Mirada, Calif., in December.
According to the company, its partnership with Unisource will allow Latex International customers on the West Coast to continue to order smaller skid quantities, as well as pick up on a more regular basis. The company says it “will conduct a transportation analysis for each customer to ensure the company delivers on time and at the best value.”
“For LI’s truckload customers, Unisource will provide extremely competitive rates as backhauls are quite abundant coming out of Texas. This provides great values to our customers in the western, central and southeastern parts of the U.S.” Coleman said.
In the third phase of the restructuring, scheduled for 2013, Latex International plans to start pouring latex at its Texas facility, which already has the necessary infrastructure—power availability, electrical, gas and lighting—to do so.
The company broke ground on a new latex manufacturing plant in Malaysia in June.
