Sealy Launches New Flame Resistant Line - High Point Debut

Furniture World Magazine

Sealy’s announced that its new line of Stearns & Foster bedding will be protected by Sealy’s FlameGuard® system. The Company also announced that its new SpringFree latex line of bedding will be launched with FlameGuard as well. Sealy’s non-toxic, fiber-based FlameGuard system meets California’s TB-603 state regulations, the country’s most stringent flammability standards for household bedding. The FlameGuard system blocks and extinguishes flames with a high degree of reliability. This move makes Sealy’s Stearns & Foster line FR-compliant nationally—well in advance of the federal OFR (open-flame resistant) regulation, which is scheduled to take effect in 2007. “We’re very proud of our commitment to FR—from our participation in the drafting of federal and state legislation and regulation—to the engineering and creation of FR supply chains, quality systems and products in the bedding industry,” said Dave McIlquham, chairman and chief executive officer of Sealy. “Sealy’s proactive move reflects our goal to invest in the development, testing and commercialization of FR solutions and our commitment to meet or exceed federal, state and industry standards,” McIlquham added. Sealy intends to launch all new products in 2006 and beyond with FR (flame resistant) materials and will continue to invest in additional development, testing and commercialization of FR-compliant solutions across its entire product portfolio. Over the last several years, Sealy has demonstrated its FR commitment by: - Investing millions of dollars and multiple years of R&D resources to develop safe solutions for flame retardancy and flammability. -Constructing the industry’s only dedicated R&D test center for FR development, testing, certification, and quality control; Sealy’s R&D test center is engineered with sophisticated, twin-cell design and advanced test system controls. -Burn-testing more than 1,500 mattresses in its R&D Test Center at Sealy headquarters, since its opening in December 2004. -Partnering with the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) and California state regulators to develop flammability regulations that have been successfully implemented in California. -Cultivating and sharing FR developments and solutions with suppliers for the entire industry’s supply chain. “We have already realized important benefits from our investments in FR, including faster time-to-market for new product development, unmatched quality assurance and the ability to partner with suppliers,” said Bruce Barman, senior vice president, research & development. Launch at High Point Furniture Market: The new Stearns & Foster FR-compliant and the Sealy SpringFree FR-compliant lines will be launched at Furniture Market in High Point October 19 and begin shipping to retail stores across the country by late November. Sealy, Inc.: Sealy is the largest bedding manufacturer in the world, and is the leading bedding company in North America. Including its subsidiaries, Sealy has 30 manufacturing plants in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. There are a total of 12 international licensees operating in Spain, Portugal, Australia, Israel, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, South Africa, the Bahamas and the United Kingdom. In addition to its licensees, Sealy has a joint venture in Southeast Asia and Korea. Sealy produces and sells a full range of mattresses under the Sealy, Sealy Posturepedic®, Stearns & Foster and Bassett brand names. Sealy-branded licensed products include: crib mattresses, sheets, pillows, mattress pads and comforters, office chairs, futons and sleep sofas. For more information on Sealy, Inc. visit www.sealy.com.