Leggett & Platt honors innovators
New furniture, bedding technologies developed
Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, 12/2/2008 7:55:25 AM
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Leggett & Platt has honored 12 employees with the J.P. Leggett Innovator Award for their work in developing a variety of technological advancements.Named in honor of J.P. Leggett, one of the company's founders and the inventor of the coiled bed spring, the award is the highest internal recognition for excellence in technological advancements.
"Exceptional talent across Leggett & Platt is evident within these leading innovations," said Vincent Lyons, vice president of engineering and product development. "I am proud to be part of such an accomplished work force."
Recipients are:
- LeRoy Johnson, senior director of emerging technologies, for his work with eCoupled, which delivers power through an advanced wireless infrastructure.
- Ryan Chacon, Niels Mossbeck, Mark Quinn, Chuck Steers, Jason Turner and Tom Wells Jr., for creating and promoting the Starry Night Sleep Technology. It is the first bed to incorporate diagnostic and entertainment technologies into a sleep environment, and it received widespread media attention after its January debut at the Consumer Electronics Show.
- Dana Lockwood, senior seating designer at Indiana Chair Frame, for his work on the Responder office chair, which is ergonomically designed to respond to body movements and is built to withstand one million cycles of intensive use.
- Jennifer Guerndt and Jason Lewandowski, vice presidents of marketing and engineering, respectively, at Gamber-Johnson, for creating and promoting the MAG Dock. It is the first low-density, affordable magnesium docking station.
- Greg Lawson, chief engineer, Omega Motion, for the Zero Wall High Leg mechanism. It is the only mechanism for high-leg motion furniture that allows the furniture to be placed inches from a wall.
- Glenn Wiecek, product designer in the furniture hardware division, for his work on the Patients Choice Medical Care mechanism. It couples the seat back to a base and provides for smooth movement of medical chairs and hospital waiting room seating.
