Foamex launches three new foams
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, May 10, 2004
LINWOOD, Pa. — LINWOOD, Pa.— Bedding producers wary of rising prices for innersprings have a new alternative: a new foam introduced by Foamex.
Reflex Bounce is a highly resilient, supportive and durable foam that mimics the characteristics of springs while offering enhanced comfort, reduced motion transfer and more restful sleep, according to Foamex. It can help achieve a productivity increase in bedding plants of up to 25%, the company says.
Producers liked the new foam, said Vishal Malhotra, director of marketing and strategy for foam products. "Because springs are getting more expensive," he said, "Reflex Bounce is getting a great response, and we already have commitments from a few manufacturers who will be adding the new material to their merchandising lineups."
He said the Foamex product development team put the new foam on a fast-track development program. Conceptual work was done last July and the initial product work began in September. News of rising steel costs spurred the product development team to move quickly to get the new product ready for the International Sleep Products Assn.'s Expo 2004 event in March.
Foamex says Reflex Bounce is "engineered to provide support like innersprings and outperform them in all categories for comfort." Mattresses made with Reflex Bounce provide a level of support and pressure dissipation "that springs can never match," the company says.
That foam is one of three new foams that Foamex, a leader in the category, brought to the Expo. The other introductions were PillowFlex, a state-of-the-art quilting foam, and Reflex Memory, a premium visco-elastic foam.
The new Reflex foams are an extension of Foamex's flagship furniture brand, Reflex. This officially marks the debut of the Reflex brand in bedding.
Reflex Memory expands Foamex's offerings in the fast-growing visco-elastic arena. It provides a softer initial feel and responds more fluidly to body temperature than competitive premium visco foams, according to the company. The product is targeted to customers who demand high value at a reasonable cost, Foamex says.
PillowFlex expands Foamex's offerings in the quilt panel category, where Quiltflex is already positioned. Used as a mattress topping, PillowFlex is more luxurious than conventional foams, has "a unique and invigorating feel," and is "softer and more durable than high-quality fiber," according to Foamex.
The new foams are produced using Foamex's patented Variable Pressure Foaming technology.
"Today's sophisticated, health-conscious consumers are demanding expanded comfort options when selecting their sleep systems," Malhotra said. "These new, technically advanced comfort foams were designed to provide manufacturers and retailers an edge in a highly competitive marketplace, allowing them to differentiate their products and better meet customer needs."
