Boston–based licensing group Spring Air International has signed an agreement with Suibao Furniture Group, one of China’s largest mattress makers and retailers. The Chinese government recently named the company the country’s “Top Brand” and “Most Valuable Mattress Brand.”
“This is one of the most meaningful international partnerships we have ever formed,” said Eric Spitzer, Spring Air senior vice president. “The Suibao Group is not only a major force in China in terms of its size, reach, brand power and technological strength, it’s also the first bedding manufacturer in China to introduce and distribute to its own base of mattress stores.”
Suibao Furniture Group will sell a full line of Spring Air products through its retail locations.
Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Guangzhou, the Chinese company has additional manufacturing plants in Hebei, Shanghai and Tianjing. It operates 1,300 retail outlets in the eastern half of the country. The company rose to prominence in the 1990s, when it adopted state–of–the–art manufacturing methods in mattress production and introduced mattress concept stores.
“Our relationship with Spring Air will bring to Chinese customers a new collection of innovative, quality mattress products from a well–recognized and respected U.S. brand,” said Deng Zhi, chief executive officer and chairwoman of Suibao Furniture Group. “We’re very excited to become a member of the Spring Air International family. It’s a milestone in our development.”
Lenzing expands production of fibers
The Lenzing Group, a supplier of cellulosic fibers headquartered in Lenzing, Austria, is investing $166 million in manufacturing projects. The initiative is a response to increased demand for its products, the company said. Applications of its specialty fibers Lenzing Modal and Tencel have tripled since 2000.
“We expect moisture–managing cellulose fibers to be increasingly in demand in the future, as the world’s population continues to grow and areas of land used for cotton cultivation are directly competing with land used to cultivate foodstuffs,” said Dieter Eichinger, who oversees Lenzing’s Textile Fibers business unit.
The company is investing in pulp supply operations in Austria and fiber production and factory renovation in Austria and England.
Lenzing plans a significant increase in production capacity for Modal—all fiber production at its headquarters facility will be Modal. Production of Tencel will increase at the company’s plant in Heiligenkreuz, Austria, and will double at its Grimsby, England, facility. The expansion projects are expected to be completed in 2011.
Innofa opens facility outside Mexico City
Knitted mattress fabric supplier Innofa has expanded its global production capabilities with a third manufacturing facility. The Tilburg, Netherlands–based company’s newest plant is located in Puebla, Mexico, which is within a two–hour drive of Mexico City.
Innofa Mexico S.A. de C.V. began knit production in October and is adding dyeing and finishing departments. The facility is managed by Andreas Flatschacher. The plant is producing fabric mainly for the Mexican market, but also will service mattress manufacturers in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
In addition to its manufacturing operation at its headquarters in Tilburg, Innofa has a manufacturing facility in Eden, N.C. that operates as Innofa USA.
Mattress Firm unveils climate–controlled bed
Sleep–shop chain Mattress Firm has introduced YuMe, a climate–controlled mattress that provides separate cooling and heating options for both sides of the bed.
The Houston–based retailer introduced the proprietary mattress at the Texas State Fair held Sept. 24 to Oct. 17 in Dallas. The bed incorporates thermo–electronic technology from Northfield, Mich.–based Amerigon into a luxury mattress manufactured by Sleep Inc. in Corsicana, Texas.
“We explored multiple innovative options before developing something truly unique for our customers,” said Dave Brummett, Mattress Firm vice president of product development. “We are excited to offer a product that not only pushes the bedding industry, but addresses a significant factor in the sleep environment. Studies show that the right temperature can help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and get better quality sleep.”
The heating and cooling technology, which is operated with two wireless remotes, is the same as that found in luxury automobile seats. It uses ambient air to warm and cool the bed’s surface.
The all–foam mattress has a 1–inch visco–elastic comfort layer with 30% renewable content derived from coconut oil. The bed has a ventilated Climate Diffusion Layer beneath the visco layer and is upholstered in three–dimensional spacer fabric.
“This is an unprecedented product that marries proven technology from very different industries,” said Steve Stagner, Mattress Firm chief executive officer. “It combines expertise from the finest automotive technology with luxury bedding materials to give consumers personalized control over what may be keeping them up at night.”
Sleep to Live adds West Coast plant
Sleep to Live, a division of mattress maker Kingsdown Inc., has opened a new manufacturing facility in Stockton, Calif. The 50,000–square–foot plant brings the company’s domestic manufacturing plants to six. Kingsdown has two international facilities.
“The Stockton plant helps us provide even faster service and fulfillment for our growing brands on the West Coast,” said Eric Hinshaw, chairman and chief executive officer of the company, which has headquarters in Mebane, N.C. “Through this distribution hub, we can deliver our products to more retailers in a region where we are expanding our presence.”
The plant, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of November, will employ between 30 and 35 full–time staff.
Jacquard Textile adds knitting capacity
Mattress fabric supplier Jacquard Textile Group Ltd. has added a $10 million knitting facility to a manufacturing plant at its headquarters in Phetchaburi, Thailand.
The new facility has 42 knitting machines, as well as in–line finishing and packaging equipment with the capacity to produce more than 546,000 yards of finished goods per month.
The company is celebrating its 10th anniversary of serving mattress manufacturers in Asia and Australia. It was founded in 2000 with technology and design support from Stellini Textile Group in Italy.
Jacquard Textile Group also has factories in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Coimbatore, India. The company has not released details but construction of a fourth plant is planned for 2011.
Carpenter pillow video is YouTube sensation
A video done for sleep accessories and industry components supplier Carpenter Co. has quickly gone viral, reaching millions of viewers and earning a “Most Favorited” designation on YouTube.
The music video, “2 Guys 600 Pillows,” was posted on YouTube Sept. 14. By Sept. 15, it had 85,000 views and was featured on YouTube’s home page among the “Most Favorited,” according to the company. By early October, it had more than 2.7 million views. To watch the video, check www.youtube.com/watch?v=01TL9bUWr6I.
The video’s song, “My Favorite Pillow” is written and performed by self–described “internetainers” Rhett & Link, a creative team with a strong online following. The video combines a catchy tune and lyrics with special effects involving more than 600 pillows and mattress toppers. Along the way, viewers learn that their old pillows are laden with sweat, dead skin cells and other unpleasant things. At the end of the video, Rhett & Link urge viewers to go to Carpenter’s website, www.sleepbetter.org, to watch another version.
To date, hundreds of thousands of visitors have clicked over to Carpenter’s website, not just to see the video, but also to read articles about how and when to replace old pillows.
“We are obviously thrilled about the massive popularity of our first viral video, but the fact that the video has communicated one of our key industry messages so clearly is most gratifying,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products for the Richmond, Va.–based company. “It is clear from the response and traffic on Sleepbetter.org that viewers understand the benefits of getting new bedding equipment and they are actively looking for more information for purchasing.”
Gribetz International turns 70
Quilting equipment supplier Gribetz International, part of Leggett & Platt’s Global Systems Group in Sunrise, Fla., is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The company was founded by Dan Gribetz, who began manufacturing king–size, lock–stitch quilting machines in 1940.
The Gribetz brand of quilters counts a number of milestones in its history. In the 1970s, it developed a positive drive to accommodate thick quilt packages. In the 1980s, Gribetz pioneered the first three needle–bar quilter for sewing plush, 12–inch patterns. Its first computerized quilter, the Gribetz Ultra 12, allowed manufacturers to create 360–degree patterns and the tack–and–jump quilting style. In the late 1980s, Gribetz produced the multineedle chain–stitch machine, the DG2000 series.
In the 1990s, the company’s high–speed machinery introductions and new software helped reduce waste and better organize quilt production. Its newest Axiom quilter is even faster and its dual–bridge, multihead sewing system enhances creativity and productivity, according to the company.
Carpenter Co. offering CertiPUR–US foams
Components supplier and sleep accessories producer Carpenter Co. of Richmond, Va., is providing CertiPUR–US certified foams for bedding and upholstered furniture.
“At Carpenter Co., we continually apply new technologies and the highest standards of quality for our cushioning products,” said Scott Pugh, director of Carpenter’s Reinhart Technical Center. “The CertiPUR–US certification gives our customers assurance that our focus remains on quality, performance, comfort and the environment.”
CertiPUR–US is a voluntary testing, analysis and certification program of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, based in Loudon, Tenn. Certified products must be low–emission for indoor air quality and made without ozone–depleters, formaldehyde, PBDEs, prohibited phthalates, lead, mercury and other materials of concern. CertiPUR–US also sets baseline standards for physical attributes that contribute to foam comfort and durability.
Other flexible polyurethane foam producers participating in the program include Advanced Urethane Technologies/Sleep Innovations, Flexible Foam Products Inc., Future Foam, FXI Foamex Innovations, Healthcare/HK Foam, Hickory Springs Mfg. Co., NCFI Polyurethanes, Premier Foam Inc., Prestige Fabricators and Sinomax USA Inc.
Simmons QR tags launch at JCPenney
Simmons Bedding Co.’s new Quick Response tagging application for its Beautyrest line has rolled out nationwide in partnership with department store JCPenney.
The QR tags are a small barcode that can be read by smart phones. Scanning the tag makes additional online information, images and videos easily available to consumers. Smart phone owners first must download a free Microsoft tag reader at http://gettag.mobi in order to begin scanning QR tags with their phone.
“Mattress shopping can be an overwhelming experience given the plethora of brands and the fact that it is often an infrequent and big–ticket purchase,” said John Tighe, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of home at JCPenney, which has headquarters in Plano, Texas. “QR tags aim to assist with the process and provide an enhanced customer experience, leading to a richer and more informed dialogue between the consumer and the sales associate.”
Using the Simmons QR tags, consumers can see additional images of a bed, watch videos about its construction and access detailed information about components.
“QR tags bring point–of–sale to life, educating and engaging the consumer at the point where purchase decisions are made,” said Tim Oakhill, executive vice president of marketing for Atlanta–based Simmons. “We’re proud of the fact that Simmons is the first major mattress manufacturer to have QR tag technology ready for retailers to incorporate into their store environments.”
CORRECTION
A Las Vegas Market report in the September issue of BedTimes incorrectly represented the licensing arrangement for the Ernest Hemingway Fine Bedding line, introduced by North Brunswick, N.J.–based Mattress Development Co., parent company of the Eclipse and Eastman House Brands. The licensor of the Ernest Hemingway collection of products is Hemingway Ltd. through New York–based Fashion Licensing of America Inc. The licensor approached Mattress Development Co. and asked it to produce the line, said Stuart Carlitz, president of the mattress manufacturer and licensing group.
SHORTS
Natura holds pet bed contest
Mattress maker Natura World held a “Reclaim Your Bed” pet photo contest in October. Contestants posted pictures of their pets at the Cambridge, Ontario–based company’s Facebook page and a winner was to be selected on Nov. 1 to receive a Natura Natural Pet Bed. The beds are filled with granulated latex and have a moisture–wicking wool top, which blocks the growth of dust mites and bacteria. “Pampering your pooch or kitty with a luxuriously comfortable, naturally healthy bed of their own is a guilt–free way to reclaim your own sleep sanctuary,” said Julia Rosien, Natura World communications director.
U.S. mattress sales up 6.3%
The U.S. bedding industry saw unit sales (mattresses and foundations) increase 6.3% in August over the same month in 2009, according to the most recent Bedding Barometer, a monthly sales trend report from the International Sleep Products Association. The dollar value of those sales rose 7.9% over August 2009. The average unit selling price inched up 1.4%.
Bargoose lock seals out bugs
Bargoose Home Textiles, with headquarters in Lynnbrook, N.Y., has added a patent–pending Zip–N–Stick lock to its BedBug Solution line of mattress protectors for the hospitality industry. The zipper tape locks bedbugs in or out, the company says. The housekeeping staff knows the seal is engaged when the tape is fastened securely over the zipper pull. The company’s protector line includes a waterproof, six–gauge vinyl cover for the box spring and “a water–vapor transmissive” mattress cover fabricated from stretch polyester knit with urethane.
Sapsa revamps look, website
Paris–based industry supplier Sapsa Latex has created a new visual identity and redesigned its website,
www.sapsalatex.com. The new logo—with a fluid, dynamic “S” in a midnight blue, pebble–shaped color block—is intended to convey relaxation and sleep. The phrase “Original since 1929” evokes the company’s long heritage and continuous manufacturing process. The website provides a range of product information, research and videos and can be translated into seven languages. Sapsa Latex has an 80–year history of manufacturing latex foam cores for various uses.
Classic Brands aids ‘Extreme Makeover’ home
Specialty sleep maker Classic Brands donated Dormia Classic memory foam mattresses to furnish nine bedrooms of Girls Hope of Baltimore, a group home for girls. Construction of the facility was featured on the ABC television series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” in September. “Classic Brands has a long history of community service…and when we received the call from the design team at ‘Extreme Makeover,’ we felt honored to get involved in their Baltimore build,” said Mike Zippelli, chief executive officer of the Jessup, Md.–based company.
Vi–Spring goes with British wool
Mattress maker Vi–Spring said it has committed to using “only the highest quality, pure British fleece wool across its entire collection, with real Shetland Isle wool being used in its top–of–the–range beds.” The move comes in support of the Campaign for Wool launched earlier this year by the Prince of Wales. Wool is a natural, sustainable fiber that lends softness, warmth and resilience to beds, the company said. “We’re proud to be using one of Britain’s finest natural resources while supporting a campaign that aims to increase demand for wool and raise its worth to upland farmers,” said Mike Meehan, managing director of the Devon, England–based company.
American Textile celebrates 85 years
American Textile Co. is marking 85 years in business this year and celebrated with a party Oct. 2 at its headquarters in Duquesne, Pa. “American Textile Co. has remained strong throughout many changes in the economic climate,” said Reid Ruttenberg, American Textile Co. chairman. “I attribute our success to several factors: anticipating market needs, developing new product line extensions and providing value–based solutions to our customers.” The company supplies mattress and pillow protectors, bed pillows and mattress pads to retailers in the United States and Canada under brand names such as Aller–Ease, Rest Right, DermaTherapy and Cool Sensations.
