Simmons Bedding Company announced that it has been granted a United States patent for its Transflexion™ Comfort Technology, an innovative foam “break in” process that is designed to ensure a mattress feels the same at home as it does on the retail floor. Offering both consumer and retailer benefits, Simmons’ Transflexion process demonstrates the company’s ongoing drive for consumer satisfaction as well as the desire to minimize bedding returns, which is a costly problem that plagues many retailers.
As a direct result of the company’s success with Transflexion Comfort Technology, Simmons will be attaching a 20-year limited warranty to the new 2010 Beautyrest Black® collection, which is being introduced at this week’s Las Vegas Furniture Market. “Returns have become a major issue in the bedding industry. However, Transflexion Comfort Technology can help reduce the number of returns that retailers encounter,” said Mark Owen, Simmons’ vice president of brand management. “We’ve conducted extensive third party testing of the new Beautyrest Black line and found that the addition of Transflexion technology has significantly enhanced its durability. That, coupled with the reduction in returns we have seen with the current Beautyrest Black line, makes us confident the collection is worthy of a 20-year limited warranty. We would not attach a longer warranty without this proof.”
The development of Transflexion Comfort Technology began approximately two years ago, when researchers at Simmons created the process of pre-stressing polyurethane foam layers before they were used in mattress production to achieve enhanced comfort and increased durability. In the Transflexion process, large sections of polyurethane foam are subjected to high pressure. This forces tiny windows inside the foam cells to pop open and release trapped gas from inside and throughout the foam. With traditional polyurethane foams, the gases stay trapped inside the foam cells until they are gradually released through repeated use of the bed. Because the trapped gases create a false firmness in the foam, a newly delivered mattress with traditional foams does not feel as soft as a retail sample of the same model that has been tested by numerous mattress shoppers. Consequently, this issue has resulted in a significant number of comfort returns by consumers. Rather than relying on educating every consumer on the nature of foam mattress padding prior to product purchase, Simmons is using the Transflexion process to address the underlying cause of this problem.
Because the Transflexion process pre-conditions a bed’s foam layers, the technology removes false firmness from a mattress, ensuring a consistent feel from the store to home and throughout the life of the mattress. For retailers, greater customer satisfaction means fewer costly product returns as well as improved sales associate confidence since there is no need to explain that consumers should expect a “break in period” when the mattress is delivered.
A key part of the company’s proactive research and development strategy, Transflexion Comfort Technology helps Simmons supply consumers with the utmost in value and satisfaction. Simmons’ dedication to creating the technology demonstrates the company’s continued investment in industry-leading innovations and patented product advancements, an effort that dates back to its founding in 1870.
“Transflexion is the latest addition to the long line of groundbreaking product innovations that Simmons has brought to market including Beautyrest® Pocketed Coil® technology, king and queen size mattresses and No Flip design,” said Simmons CEO Gary Fazio. “Our research and development team constantly strives for Simmons to maintain its position as the leading innovator in the bedding industry, and the success we’ve attained is the direct result of their creativity and expertise.”
Transflexion Comfort Technology is currently available in Simmons’ Beautyrest Black collection and Beautyrest World Class® models. It is also featured in the new ComforPedic® line debuting at this week’s Las Vegas Furniture Market. As the company realizes economies of scale, Simmons eventually plans to incorporate the process throughout its product portfolio.
Simmons has no plans to license Transflexion technology in mattress production other than to its existing licensees. However, the company intends to make it available to other industries that use foam padding such as home furnishings and bedding accessories. For more information, visit www.simmons.com.
About Simmons Bedding Company: Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company is one of the world's largest mattress manufacturers, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of products including Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®, Beautyrest® NxG®, Beautyrest Studio™, BeautySleep®, ComforPedic by Simmons™, Natural Care® and Beautyrest Beginnings®. Simmons Bedding operates 19 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities and one juvenile bedding manufacturing facility across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding also serves as a key supplier of beds to many of the world’s leading hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons Bedding is committed to developing superior mattresses and promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around the world.